A boxwood shunga netsuke with natural himotoshi, skillfully carved in the form of two mushrooms with suggestive stems, deliberately evoking the erotic symbolism typical of shunga art. At the center of the larger mushroom cap emerges a delicate caterpillar carved in blond horn. Many celebrated artists of the Edo period created shunga works, often combining eroticism with humor and Japanese aesthetic sensibility. Signed Masatomo 正友. Netsuke, composed of the kanji ne (根), meaning "root," and tsuke (付け), meaning "to attach," are small Japanese sculptures originally used as fasteners to secure objects to the sashes of kimono (obi 帯). From the late 19th century they became highly collectible in Europe and America, admired for the variety of subjects, the fine details, the patina and their strong tactile appeal. ---The netsuke is in good condition. Natural openings in the wood are present. Please refer to the pictures for further details. The item will be carefully packed and shipped via DHL or FedEx, accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity issued by Mastromauro Japanese art gallery based in Milan, Italy. 245