By Ittan, Nagoya, Mid 19th century. The fox in the guise of Tadanobu as it attempts to regain the tzuzumi which was covered with the belly skin of its mother. Richly stained, essentially unworn, the pupils inlaid in black, the rope bindings on the tzuzumi are undercut, the large himotoshi appears naturally on the underside. Signed on the end of the bushy tail, Ittan, plus kakihan. Similar illustrated in Davey, Fig. 586. 1 3/8in (3.5cm). Provenance: Purchased at Yagi art shop in Kyoto, Japan, 1960.