Okimono or small sculptures in the form of two crabs. Of carved and assembled bamboo. Signed on the reverse with incised signatures by the artist: Yosetsu Tsukuru or Made by Yosetsu (Nakanishi Yosetsu, the go or art name of Nakanishi Taizen, 1841 – 1923). Taisho 8 or 1919.

With a double storage box.

Nakanishi Yosetsu was a Kumamoto artist who specialized in bamboo carvings, an extremely difficult material in which to work. He was famous for his sencha tea ceremony objects, scepters, and okimono of crabs. These crabs were made at the artist’s home in Nishimura, Kumamoto City in June 1919, when the artist was 78 years old. A dated photograph is included in the storage box.