By Baitetsu, signed BaitetsuJapan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Finely crafted as a matchlock pistol (known as tanegashima, a firearm introduced to Japan through the Portuguese Empire in 1543 and used by the samurai class), the hinged brush and ink container mounted in silver and opening to reveal a bamboo brush within, the pistol further decorated with foliate incision work and silver-mounted aoi mons. The butt signed BAITETSU.LENGTH 14 cmWEIGHT 65 gCondition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.Provenance: European collection.Literature comparison:A similar example by Baitetsu is illustrated in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art: One Thousand Favorites of Leading Collectors, p. 30, no. 54.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related yatate, also signed Baitetsu and dated to the Meiji period, at Sotheby’s, Arts d’Asie, 18 December 2012, Paris, lot 326 (sold for 4,750 EUR).