MIWA: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF AN OCTOPUS GHOST AND MONKEY By Miwa, signed Miwa 三輪 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), c. 1800, Edo period (1615-1868) The octopus ghost towering above a frightened monkey, the simian clinging to a horagai clam, visibly distressed and screeching, its feet clenched. The monkey's assailant is wearing a sleeveless jacket, one tentacle placed on the top of its head and another pointing downwards, the other six are standing on the horagai, the suckers are well-carved even within the tight spaces. The octopus ghost is looking downwards with glaring eyes, double-inlaid in pale and dark horn, and with its funnel-shaped mouth pressed forward, taunting the poor monkey. Chimney himotoshi through the back and between the tentacles, and signed MIWA. HEIGHT 6.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Provenance: British collection. This netsuke references a legend in which the octopus-physician to Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey's liver to heal the king's daughter. Literature comparison: A very similar wood netsuke by Miwa is illustrated in Coullery, Marie-Therese and Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, C. 916. Auction comparison: A similar wood netsuke signed Minko was sold at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from the Adrienne Barbanson Collection, 13 May 2013, London, lot 50 (sold for 4,750 GBP). 5% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.