A unique 18th century Japanese ox netsuke sold for an extraordinary sum at Bonhams last night.
The lot achieved £149,000 ($192,563), almost five times its £30,000 ($38,771) estimate.
High-end netsuke are prized for their remarkable detail
Netsuke are small ornaments traditionally used in Japan to attach a purse to a kimono.
The most valuable are created by master craftsmen and display an extraordinary level of detail.
This one is by Izumiya Tomotada, who lived and worked in Kyoto during the late 1700s.
He was one of the three best netsuke carvers active in the city during this time and his work is highly prized by collectors.
This sale is a record for his work at auction.
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