Help with a couple of netsuke please, & possibly translate

I love the mouse one. I'm with Messi - I just want to give him a squeeze!

 

These just add to my confusion
This one just says wood, and it's a bit bigger than mine at 4 cm. Mine is about 3 cm.
http://www.netsukeandinro.com/coll_dett_sing.asp?id=38&cat=1

There are several of these that have sold. Stating 1940's, but in the description it says by a famous artist (and they don't mention the name), and you won't get the exact one pictured, because each one is different....??...hmmmm, something not right about that, lol.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1940-s-Japanese-handmade-Boxwood-Wood-Netsuke-034-cute-rat-034-Figurine-Carving-R0-/191480479514?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c95203f1a&nma=true&si=u%2B9Uq7jnRjGazFbrcY9OyvEI94c%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

Ooops, I made a mistake and I'm sorry....going back to the animal on the turtle.....I didn't show a picture of the tail, and just figured out he can't be a beaver because of his tail. My bad for not showing a picture, please forgive me, LOL!!

 

Well then maybe it's a hard wood.......If you'd let me hold it . I'd know for sure.

The ebay ones are newer....& yuk....compared to yours......which does look indeed like the same hand as the 1st link...

 

Beavers have large rear webbed feet....didn't need the tail to tell me that ...

 

Hi Messi,
That rat is the BOMB. He is really really nice.
greg

 

heh heh heh
I will be haunting her auctions for it.

 

I love that rat!
Tyeldom3 your photos are excellent, they show all the little details so clearly.

 

Your rat is darling, tyeldom3! I especially like how the 'holes' are incorporated into the design.

Funny how something so sweet and attractive in a little carving would probably unsettle most of us if it were alive and walked into our room uninvited - (at least it would give me quite a start and send me running)

 

Ya ..well that cute little guy is not going to eat yer face off while you sleep at night !!

 

Hi,
Never be too sure. Remember Karen Black who had an Indian doll, when the necklace came off it was running around trying to kill her?
greg

 

PS, if one is not familiar with tagua.... it is so hard that many people would assume it could not possibly be a nut; and does look a whole lot like ivory;

 

Thank you all so much for your help and compliments!
All fakes, I have been doing more research over the last few days, and I agree with you about the nut. It isn't a nut, it is boxwood, and what a relief to at least figure that much out, LOL.
I also learned that the mark/signature is that of Masanao.
https://ojime.wordpress.com/netsuke/masanao-netsuke-history/

Who knows though if the signature is real or not?, and which one of the Masanao's it could have been, or in the school of, etc. So I have a lot more work to do on that little critter.
Thanks again everyone.

 

You can only hope:

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...gned-4557702-details.aspx?intObjectID=4557702

 

I think you might have a really nice find, tyeldom.

 

Me thinks so as well.......Rock a Fella ...or not !

 

Hi, if you want the opinion of some of the best netsuke experts, you could post your rat here: http://netsuke.websitetoolbox.com/?full_version=1 . They can tell you if it is authentic or not... Tell them what you found out yourself first!
Mat

 

Thank you Moreotherstuff, moon, komokwa & Mat. I sure hope it's something nice too, but won't get my hopes up too much.
Funny Mat, I spent a few hours reading on that netsuke site over the last few days. There are some really knowledgeable folks there. Just last night I was about to register and ask them for help, but got side-tracked and couldn't, so I will try again today. Thanks!

 

Hi tyledom, I saw your post on the netsuke forum, I guess they are right that it is molded... However I like it very much!
Mat

 

I said it looked moulded.