GEORGES WEIL: AN AMUSING BANDED AFRICAN EBONY NETSUKE OF A KAPPA HEAD By Georges Weil, signed with artist’s initials ‘GW’ 1977 Published: Rutherston, Max (2017) Japanese Masks, Peter E. Müller, no. 225. Carved from banded African ebony and depicting the head of a kappa, the crown which contains the being’s vital fluids, is made from the naturally light part of the wood. The eyes are inlaid in dark horn with gold pupils. Large himotoshi to the underside and signature within a gold tablet ‘GW’. HEIGHT 4 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: Purchased by Peter E. Müller from Douglas J. K Wright. Georges Weil was born in Vienna in 1938 and moved to England one year later. He became a famous jewelry designer and sculptor of precious metals and his works are highly collectible to this day. Weil started collecting netsuke in the 1960s and started carving netsuke in the 1970s. His works have been featured in many exhibitions throughout the world, and are in the collections of many museums, such as the British museum.