KANO TOMOKAZU
A superfine wood group of 3 rats turning and tumbling over each other in play, the plump, smooth sensuality of their furry little bodies continually curling and turning back upon themselves, asymmetrically tucked in to one another’s extremities in a randomly holistic, perfectly self-creating design whose circular linear flow is interrupted only by the nicely-judged protrusion of their heads and ears. These too are self-delineated, rounded and gently blunted, sweet and soft without descending to caricature.

Signed: Tomokazu, engraved within an oval reserve.

Gifu, circa 1820

Height: 1 1/8 in., 2.9 cm.; width: 1 9/32 in., 3.3 cm.

Ex collections: M.M. Hepworth, England; M.T. Hindson, England.

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