A kurogaki (black persimmon) wood sashi netsuke of an aubergine Attributed to Kaigyokusai Masatsugu, Osaka, Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1870 The aubergine of elongated form, the long stem curling to form the himotoshi; unsigned. 14.7cm (5¾in) long. 注脚 It was relatively rare for Kaigyokusai to deviate from carving animal netsuke. Of 656 entries for the artist in Fuld's Netsuke and Ojime Index, only 73 are of plants. Aubergines appear to be a favourite plant of the artist, with 18 listed by Fuld, 16 of carved wood. A signed example described as ebony was sold at Sotheby's, London, 9 June 1971, lot 48.