An ebony netsuke of a rhinocerosBy Masatoshi (Nakamura Tokisada, 1915-2001), Tokyo, 20th century Standing four-square with its head raised and turned slightly to the left, its thick skin finely rendered with a cloud-pattern in matt and polished sections, signed in an irregular polished reserve Masatoshi to (carved by Masatoshi). 5.6cm (2¼in).注脚黒檀彫根付　犀　銘 「雅俊刀」　20世紀A very similar example also by the artist is illustrated by R. Bushell, The Art of Netsuke Carving, Tokyo, Kodansha, 1981, p.206, no.283, and Sydney L. Moss Ltd., Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on, London, 2008, p.185, no.94. That larger example was inspired by an archaic Chinese bronze rhinoceros vessel viewed by the artist at an exhibition of Chinese bronzes at the Tokyo National Museum.