Shunko - coiled snake netsuke
Tsu, circa 1820
A dark wood study of a coiled snake, boldly carved with a rippling sense of movement as it rests its head on its thick body. The watchful eyes are double-inlaid in light and dark horn.
Signed in a smooth elliptical reserve: Shunko
Width: 3.5cm
MCI records a plump goldfish with this signature that also appears in Neil Davey’s book of the M.T. Hindson collection. Hindson suggests that Shunko was a pupil of Minko, the second character of the signatures being the same.
Provenance:
Victor Topper collection
Published:
Hurtig, B., Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, Tokyo and New York, 1973, pl. 699
