Ivory netsuke with the design of wrestling Oni by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu [懐玉齋正次].

Signed: Masatsugu [正次]

Osaka School.

Made: 1850-1900; Late Edo – Meiji Period.

Dimensions: 44 x 40 x 33 mm.

The right hand of the upper Oni and one toe of the lower Oni are missing. Ref.: Raymond Bushell. Collector’s netsuke. Weatherhill, NY, Tokyo; Ninth printing, 2002, pp. 84-87. “Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892) was an Osaka based carver renowned for his flawless technique as illustrated upon this netsuke with its finely carved ivory form, with no staining and bright inlaid eyes” (V&A).