A Boxwood Netsuke Depicting A Snake Wrapping Around A Pumpkin

The snake is a symbol often associated with rebirth, transformation while the pumpkin is a symbol of fertility, abundance and prosperity in Japanese tradition.

Signed Yoshimasa (??) under the pumpkin in “ukibori”.

For similar netsuke see the Katchen collection, published N7, vol.2, p.31, no.K329.

Origin: Japan

Period: Edo 19th century.

Dimensions: 3 x 3.5 x 3.3 cm.

State of conservation: Very good