A ningyo (mermaid) grips her tail in one hand

A ningyo (mermaid) grips her tail in one hand, curling it towards her. Under her right arm she holds a plump fish and her mouth is open as she appears to shout out with contentment. Her long hair is swept back and flows in wet rivulets down her back and into the dorsal fin.
The slender dark wood carving is alive with expression, the fine details of her face and toned muscular arm both adding to the animated feeling of the carving.

Signed in an elliptical reserve: Tachikawa Takusai

Width: 3.7cm

Provenance:
Teddy Hahn collection
H.I.H. Princess Takamado collection

Published: Lazarnick, G., MCI, New York, 1986, p. 833.
Bandini, R., Japanese Netsuke from the collection of Teddy Hahn, London, 2014, no. 3.