Page 107 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

102 | BAZAN: AN AMUSING WOOD NETSUKE 103 | SARI: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE
OF A FOX TRAPPING A RAT OF A CLUSTER OF RATS
By Bazan, unsigned By Sari, signed Sari
Japan, Iwashiro or Nagoya, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Japan, Iwashiro, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A classic model by the rare artist Bazan, though the position of the It is recorded that Bazan was born in Gifu and moved at some A small, compact study depicting seven rats (nezumi) clambering
rat is always different. Here the fox has trapped a rat underneath a point to Tokyo but has been placed by experts in the Nagoya over each other and grasping the tails of one another. The hairwork
tattered straw hat, however the rat has broken through the surface school. However, it is also probable that he was active in Iwashiro, is finely incised and the individual eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The
of the hat, apparently with some help from the fox who is tearing at birthplace of Hidari Issan. The reason for this is that Bazan and underside shows the dense congregation of paws and tails, as well
the fabric with his mouth. Half of the rat is visible above, the other Basui are surely connected, in part due to the peculiar writing of the as the signature written in sosho inside the typical oval reserve SARI
half visible on the underside, its tail curling around the string used first kanji Ba 馬. When comparing Basui and Hidari Issan’s tortoises 左里. Natural himotoshi.
to attach the hat. The surface is lightly stained and accentuated it becomes clear that they are connected as well. Therefore, my
with black coloring. The fur of the combatants is rendered precisely, assumption is that all three mentioned carvers were at some point HEIGHT 2.5 cm, LENGTH 3.5 cm
and the visible eye of the rat is inlaid in dark horn. The underside active in Iwashiro. The carving style of the present netsuke certainly
with himotoshi. shows some similarities with netsuke by Hidari Issan, who also Condition: Very good condition, appealing patina.
shares the second kanji zan 山. Provenance: British collection.
LENGTH 3.6 cm
Literature comparison: Compare to similar netsuke by Bazan in Literature comparison: Another example of a group of rats by Sari
Condition: Very good condition. Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the are in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI,
Provenance: British collection. M.T. Hindson Collection, p.207, nos. 631-633. Part B, p. 703 (unillustrated).
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,- Starting price EUR 1.000,-

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