A few netsuke

[Ko Baas]

Hello all,

 

My last post has been a while ago, but I'm always looking what's going on here.

 

I would like to show a few recent carvings. Of antler and horn. I mostly carve in boxwood but like to try other materials if I can get them.

 

The first is a tip of a horn carved in the shape of a folded leaf with a cicada on it. 8 cm long.

Carving horn is not easy I think. Details are very difficult. Finishing is a nightmare.

This piece of horn has a lot internal cracks as is often the case.

 

 

The next is a horn carp carved from the tip of a large black horn. Not waterbuffalo.

A very coarse grained sort of horn.

I didn't carve a himotoshi, so it's an okimono. 10 cm long. Double inlayed eyes.

 

 

The last is a dragon in clouds caved from a piece of stag antler. 5,5 cm long.

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy them.

 

Ko

[Natasha]

Hello Ko!

Thank You for posting these interesting carvings! I wonder what kind of horn have You used for the cicada? It looks so unusual and very fine! I know horns are not the best raw materials and to polish details is a huge head-ache! You have done a great work! I do like your netsuke!

If it is possible can You show more details of Cicada?

[Ko Baas]

Thank you Natasha,

 

I don't know what kind of horn it is. I bought it on a flea market and it looked like a sort of cow horn.

It is build up in layers (like an onion) and these layers separate in some places. This piece has nice colors so I carved the cicada from the light part.

 

I made some detail photo's for you. About 3 times life size mind you.

 

 

Ko

[tsterling]

Really nice work, Ko! Thanks for showing it. Horn certainly isn't the most cooperative material, but you did just fine with it.

[Natasha]

Thank You, Ko! You have done very perfectly carved details on this difficult raw material! Very realistic!