Inlaid wood netsuke of an unagi chef
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid-20th century
Finely carved as an unagi chef kneeling over a low cutting board, intently preparing a wriggling eel that twists and squirms beneath his hand. He wears voluminous robes finely incised with chrysanthemum (kiku) blossoms.
The compact composition is enriched with numerous inlaid details, including green-stained bone vegetables on the cutting board, a silvered-metal blade with a boxwood handle, a gilt clip to the front of the cutting board. Attached to the reverse are a tobacco pouch, kiseruzutsu, and ashtray netsuke, inlaid in pale boxwood, together forming a complete smoking set. Ringed himotoshi to the underside and signed SOKOKU.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- inlaid wood
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- 3.6 cm
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable. Attribution and measurements describe the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Listing object ID
- 206787942
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Independent confirmation of type attribution and auction-house statements remains research required.