Japanese Netsuke with Pair of Perched Birds sporting knife French tulips

French tulips

Each measures approx

During the late 1920s and 1930s

Rendered in a manner that seems inspired by a pair of early19th century Staffordshire boxing figures (though certainly not as fine as those) I would guess this boxer dates from the 1940s or so

but really

Japanese Netsuke with Pair of Perched Birds sporting knife French tulipsThe world of Japanese Netsuke is incredibly complex (and incredible!), and I am no expert; I bought this piece, as I often do, as impetus to do some learning. I just love the form of these two facing perched birds, joined at the tips of their beaks and feet, with the arcs of their necks almost forming a heart and the negative space between the feet and the base rather like a keyhole. I'm pretty certain this is a 20th century piece made for the tourist