Okimono or sculpture in the form of a nezumi or rat contemplating a fine chestnut, grasped in its fingers. Of cast, cold-chiseled, and patinated bronze, the eyes inlaid in shakudo, the teeth gilt, and the chestnut inlaid in red bronze. Signed on the reverse with a chiseled signature by the artist: Yamashiro, and with a kakihan. Meiji era, late 19th century.

With a new, fitted paulownia wood storage box.

Frank Brinkley in Japan: Its History, Arts, and Literature, Volume 7, records that the Yamashiro lineage of metal casters worked in Tokyo and was founded by Hori Joho, who adopted the art name of Yamashiro. He was followed in the 17th century by Yamashiro Yasuke (or Yaguro); and by Yamashiro Jomin (also called Hori Yosai). Yamashiro Ichibei, the younger brother of Jomin, worked into the 18th century; as did another younger brother, Yamashiro Tobei.

This plump rat must have been the work of the Meiji generation.