Page 118 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

112 | NOBUKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE
OF THE JUNISHI
By Nobukazu, signed Nobukazu to 115 | MORIKAWA
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
TOEN:
A RARE
An animated study of the twelve zodiac animals (junishi). The TALL WOOD
NETSUKE
animals are arranged in a circle, climbing on top each other. Two OF A NIO AT
monkeys (saru) are climbing up on the dragon (tatsu), one of them THE TODAIJI
pulling on his whiskers and the other grabbing the snake (hebi). TEMPLE
The other animals – horse (uma), tiger (tora), goat (hitsuji), boar
(inoshishi), rooster (tori), dog (inu), rabbit (usagi) and ox (ushi) –
are all arranged in a circle underneath the imposing dragon. Two By Morikawa Toen
rats (nezumi) are well hidden, one on the underside and one on (1820-1894), signed Todaiji
the horse’s tail. The underside shows the finely carved dense Nandaimon Nio mosu
congregation of various legs and hooves and the signature inside Toen
an oval reserve NOBUKAZU 信一 to (made by). Japan, Nara, mid-19th
century, Edo period
HEIGHT 3.7 cm (1615-1868)
Condition: Good condition with minor wear and a well-done
restoration to the horse’s right leg. Depicting a Nio, an
Provenance: European collection. athletic temple guardian,
minimalistically and
Estimate EUR 3.000,- expressively carved. The
Starting price EUR 1.500,- backside is inscribed and
signed Todaiji Nandaimon
Nio mosu TOEN 杜園 -
copied by Morikawa Toen
113 | A RARE WOOD NETSUKE from the Nio Sculpture at
OF A FISHERMAN WITH FUGU the Great South Gate of
the Todaiji Temple.
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) HEIGHT 17.2 cm
Condition: Very good
An amusing wood netsuke of a very muscular fisherman, dressed condition, minimal wear.
only in a loincloth and wearing a headband, lifting a huge fugu, tied Provenance: French
to a rope, over his shoulder. The fugu has a bloated body with large private collection.
inlaid eyes of dark horn. The man too has inlaid eyes. Himotoshi on
either side of the fugu. The wood of a very appealing color with a Morikawa Toen (1820-
fine stain and hand patina. 1894) was a skilled
sculptor and poet. He
HEIGHT 6.9 cm excelled in the carving
style of ittobori (single
Condition: Very good condition, one inlaid eye of the man is lost. 114 | A FINE WOOD NETSUKE cut), also exhibited on
Provenance: British collection. OF AN ACTOR the present piece. At the
Second Naikoku Kangyo
Estimate EUR 1.500,- Unsigned Hakurankai of 1881 he
Starting price EUR 750,- Japan, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) exhibited a wood sculpture
of Ryutoki and won first
prize (myogi Itto sho).
The actor, wearing a grinning demonic mask,
stands on one foot in a dancing posture with his Literature comparison: A
arms spread out. His robe shows decorations of similar netsuke is depicted
phoenixes and dragons amongst clouds, executed in Davey, Neil K. (1974)
in extremely fine incision work on a small space. Netsuke: A comprehensive
The actor’s finely incised long hair flows all the way study based on the M.T.
down his back, the himotoshi ‘hidden’ between one Hindson Collection, p.
of the strands. 255, no.837. Another is
illustrated in an advert
HEIGHT 4 cm by Sydney Moss Ltd. in
the International Netsuke
Condition: Excellent condition. Society Journal, Vol. 19, no.
Provenance: European collection. 3, p. 37.
Estimate EUR 1.500,- Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUR 750,- Starting price EUR 600,-

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