NAKAMURA KUYA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF MOMOTARO By Nakamura Kuya (1881-1961), signed Kuya Japan, Tokyo, 20th century Depicting Momotaro emerging from a peach, the wood beautifully stained. The peach boy is naked and chubby, his hair is finely incised. The expression is sensitively crafted. Note the naturalistically rendered surface texture of the inside of the peach. Himotoshi through the leafy stem on the underside and signed KUYA 空哉. HEIGHT 3.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection. Nakamura Kuya was the teacher and father of famous carver Nakamura Tokisada, better known under his go Masatoshi (catalog no. 153). Auction comparison: For another netsuke by this carver see Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 2136.