Lot 374: Hand Carved Boxwood Netsuke of Two Mice, Signed Sōichi

A hand-carved boxwood netsuke depicting two mice, consistent with market descriptions for similar items. The object features two rats of differing sizes intertwined in a naturalistic pose, crafted from a single piece of wood. It displays a warm, reddish-brown color with a visible grain and a polished, smooth surface. The underside features two small holes (himotoshi), consistent with traditional netsuke design. The base of the larger rat is carved with the characters 宗一 (Sōichi), indicating the artist’s signature.