A WOOD NETSUKE OF A WOLF WITH TORTOISE SIGNED TOMOTADANetsuke, woodJapan, Edo period (1615-1868), c. 1800Very good work with traces of use and patina. The hungry wolf, on the battle field, place of judgement or who feeds on animals was already a relatively popular theme with early artists of the Kyoto School, such as Tomotada. No real wolf existed in Japan, rather the wild "mountain dog", thus also called yamainu, or as starving and terrifying Okami, lit. "Great God". The netsuke shows the animal very realistically with expressive two-colored, inlaid eyes, greedy rows of teeth and altogether obviously in the style of Tomotada. Vague signature between the back legs. Dimensions: HEIGHT 3.65 CMCondition: Good condtitionProvenance: Ex collection of Dr. W. Heiss, Vienna