A Meiji or Taishō period green-stained ivory netsuke, intricately carved as two frogs resting on lily pads. The frogs are depicted with lively realism, their textured skin and alert postures conveying vitality and natural charm. Frogs in Japanese symbolism are associated with good fortune, safe journeys, and fertility, while the harmonious composition atop lily pads demonstrates the carver’s sense of balance and natural observation. Signed to the base with a two-character mark.
Green-stained ivory was achieved by rubbing in mineral or plant-based dyes, sometimes combined with metal salts, and then polishing to integrate the colour with the natural surface.
Measurements: 3cm high x 6cm long
Condition: The ivory has acquired a warm patina and shows general age-related surface wear consistent with its age. There are no chips, and all sculptural details remain intact, preserving the integrity and expressive quality of the carving.
