Page 123 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

121 | HARA SHUMIN: AN IMPORTANT WOOD
NETSUKE OF A HATCHING TENGU
By Hara Shumin, inscribed Kodokan, matsu kaede, komei ni yori
and signed Tachihara Nin gikoku with kakihan
Japan, Edo, c. 1830-1840, Edo period (1615-1868)

An early rendition of the well-known hatching tengu subject by Hara
Shumin, also referred to as ‘tengu no tomago’. The underside shows
a finely carved image of a pine and maple leaf. The tengu wears an
inlaid tokin cap, the face is typically expressive, and the feathery
wing is neatly incised and worn. The eggshell shows several cracks
and openings, some of them with the protruding, sharp claws of the
mythical bird. The himotoshi on the underside, one of them ‘natural’.
The importance of this netsuke is the lengthy inscription which reads:
Kodokan, matsu kaede, komei ni yori, TACHIHARA NIN 立原任 gikoku
and with a kakihan [By the order of Lord Kodokan (Tokugawa Nariaki,
1800-1860), pine and maple trees, inscribed with righteousness by
Tachihara Nin (Tachihara Kyosho, 1785-1840)].
The netsuke was made by
special order for The Lord of
Kodokan, better known as
Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th
lord of Mito (in office 1829-
1844) and is inscribed with
fine calligraphy by the Nanga
painter Tachihara Nin,
better known as Tachihara
Kyosho, who served the
7th-9th lords of the Mito
Tokugawa clan. The tengu
depicted is hatching from an
egg in the pine and maple
woods of the grounds of
Kodokan. The Kodokan was
the largest Han school of
Tokugawa Nariaki, the Edo period and was built
9th Lord of Mito (1800-1860) by Tokugawa Nariaki and
includes the Kairakuen Park
famous for pine and maple trees. The motif of pine and maple
is frequently seen on this model, and the present netsuke with
inscription perhaps explains why this is the case. The netsuke is
unsigned since it was ordered by a man of high status, however it is
certainly by Hara Shumin of Edo, who is credited with the creation of
this model.
LENGTH 4.4 cm
Condition: Good, worn condition. Fine patina.
Provenance: British collection, formerly purchased at Sotheby’s
London, 27th June 1979,
lot 176. Made by order of Tokugawa Nariaki (9th Lord of Mito, 1800-
1860).
Auction comparison: For a similar example by Hara Shumin see
Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, London, 17 May 2018, lot 7.

Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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