Lot 20: A boar-tusk netsuke By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved July 1994

A boar-tusk netsuke
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved July 1994Carved in relief with a pouncing tiger, clutching a branch of inlaid silver bamboo leaves in its mouth, the reverse stippled, the broad end plugged with ebony; signed in a silver tablet JC. 10.3cm (4 1/8in) long. (2).

Sold together with Jack Coutu's reference card (no.239), on which he states: 'This was a smallish tusk, but reasonably thick and allowed fairly deep carving at the open end. However, halfway through the carving it developed a split about an inch long down the centre. Instead of scrapping it I covered the crack with a piece of silver bamboo, hence the curious subject matter! I feel that the piece is rather full and overworked, as usual, but this is inevitable. One day I will do a simple subject with only a small amount of carving. The colour of the print (on the card) does not help. Everything looks brown.'