Crabs!

This kushi-kogai set sold on Trocadero, from JCollector, for $2200 a number of years ago. Ridiculous price. I had the money then. ;-) I had to sell this during a house sale that took too long, and mourn it still, but I wanted to share this and note its existence. It is made of tortoiseshell with a blue lacquer background. The crabs in the leafy pool are coral pink with brown eyes amid golden leaves. They have character and smile at you. Signed on both the kushi and kogai, this Taisho set (1912-1926) is a masterpiece. It seems Japanese combs awakened to color from the Meiji to Taisho periods, just as European combs did from the Victorian to Art Nouveau and Deco periods.