2006
Type: Netsuke
Sold. Japan, private collection.
Materials: Tagua nut. Amber, black buffalo horn, mother-of-pearl and wild boar fang inlay.
Dimensions: 43×32×25 mm.
Puppies are very cute and amusing creatures. We have two dogs in our house. They are both young and we remember very well that just a little while ago they were tiny cheerful pups.
I portrayed this puppy tired and resting after a bout of running around and playing. However, in a short while, it will start running around the house once again, ripping apart slippers and shoes, loudly barking and growling.
The netsuke is carved from a single tagua (corrozzo) nut and stained. The fur is engraved. The eyes are double-inlaid with Baltic amber and wild boar (Sus scrofa) tusk
The himotoshi is inlaid with black African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) horn. The "mystery spot" is inlaid with mother-of-pearl from black-lipped pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera). My signature is engraved in an amber reserve.