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I'd be grateful for the identification of the carver of this nice netsuke of two hens in a basket. The himotoshi are carved entirely beneath one of the hens. Thanks.

This is a Chinese carved Tagua nut.
Ernest

Thanks, Ernest; I'm not entirely surprised. If you think the "signature" is a signature, and can read it, please let me know that as well.

In this case the "signature" is unimportant ! !
Ernest

Signature reads,
正次　-　Masatsugi

(Just for　your reference, Kaigyokusai Masatsugi 懐玉斎正次 1813-1892 was a famous maker of netsuke)

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thank you I. Nagy. Are you suggesting it is possible that my item may be a netsuke by this artist? A prior poster thought it was junk.

Are you implying that it is on original?
Ernest

Dear Ernest, I am not implying anything, and what`s more I agree with you. I just gave the reading of signature for reference in parenthesis.

With regards
I.Nagy

I have what looks like a tagua nut or marine ivory carving of the Hotei surrounded by children and what I have heretofore believed may be the same signature of 正次, albeit in a stylized form by a different artist (see pics below). I've been using the transcription "Masatsugu", based on finding the name "Kaigyokusai Masatsugu [1813-1892]" used by such sources as Christie's and Sotheby's. So my question for I. Nagy is whether there's any wiggle room in the transcription of Masatsugi", or have I been reading the okimono mark wrong from the start?

Thanks, and sorry for the intrusion.

Bill H.

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