By Masatami/Shomin, signed Masatami toJapan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The lucky god drifting happily on a boat, lying on his back with the legs bent, one hand supporting his head and the other resting on his belly, the face well detailed with the mouth agape in a cheerful smile, the hull of the boat neatly incised with a wood grain pattern, the underside with two asymmetrical himotoshi and the signature MASATAMI to [carved by Masatami] within an oval reserve.LENGTH 7.6 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor surface wear. Provenance: British private collection.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related netsuke by Masatami, sold at Lempertz, Netsuke-Sammlung Kolodotschko I, 14 June 2014, Cologne, lot 179 (sold for 1,708 EUR).