Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century, listed on p. 886 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Netsuke represents a kappa hunched protectively over a cucumber. Kappa (translated from Japanese as “river child”) are mythical river goblins with the body of a tortoise, limbs of a frog, and the head of a monkey. There is a hollow on the top of their head, in which is contained a fluid which gives the animal its strength. The word “kappa” resembles the word for a cucumber, so the creatures are absolutely mad about this vegetable and would go to any length to get it. Great face with wonderfully captured expression, beautiful detailing of its carapace patterns. Excellent clean carving, signed RYOSHU on the bottom. Kappa with identical face from Kinsey collection is illustrated in “MASTERPIECES OF NETSUKE ART: One Thousand Favorites of Leading Collectors” by Bernard Hurtig, number 552, p. 139. Length 1 5/8 inches.

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