NETSUKE: THREE MONKEYS.
Japan. Meiji period. Late 19th century.

Boxwood; delicately carved and engraved; the eyes of a tiger inlaid with black horn. Three monkeys playing with a large chestnut; two of them sitting atop it; while the third sticks out its head from the fruit. Width 4cm. Signed: Seizan on inlaid plate of bone; cf. LA p. 928.Art trade; Van Ham.