Page 129 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

SCHOOL PROFILE: IKKOSAI

It is a great pleasure to offer a selection of 10 works
from the Ikkosai School of Edo/Tokyo in this catalog.
Most of the pieces offered are published in the two-
part article by Giovanni Rimondi and Lukas Zacke in
the International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 39, nos.
2 & 3. They come from the collection of the author and
various other collections. The signatures below have
been attributed to their corresponding artists according
to the findings of the articles (fig.1).

Ikkosai Saito Itaro (lots 129-132) Ikkosai Saito Yataro (Kojitsu) (lot 134)
128 | CHIKUYOSAI TOMOCHIKA:
A SUPERB AND IMPRESSIVELY LARGE
IVORY NETSUKE OF EGUCHI NO KIMI
By Chikuyosai Tomochika, signed Chikuyosai Tomochika and Art name Signature Main characteristics
kakihan
Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) IKKOSAI Saito Itaro, founder of one
ofthe main Edo/Tokyo
workshops active until the
According to legend, Kimi was a courtesan in the village of Eguchi early Meiji era.
and was so devoted to Buddhist scripture that she became the
incarnation of Fugen Bosatsu (Boddhisattva Samantabhadra). IKKOSAI Creative pupil of the above,
In this netsuke she is shown seated atop a very large reclining AND TOUN who developed his personal
elephant and holding a long scroll over her knees. Her robe is style and used also the art
adorned with various patterns, her hair is inked and finely incised, name Toun.
and her garment folds are accentuated. Kimi has a sensitively
crafted expression. The ivory is superbly polished and shows a IKKOSAI Follower; may be related
fine yellowish stain, particularly to the back. The wrinkly skin of TOUN to the above. Typical of his
the elephant is achieved masterfully, and its expression transmits late style are small netsuke
wisdom and benevolence. The underside shows the well-carved in elaborate designs.
feet, himotoshi and signature CHIKUYOSAI TOMOCHIKA 竹陽齋友
親 and kakihan. IKKOSAI Saito Yataro, second master
KOJITSU of his father’s workshop,
HEIGHT 5.2, LENGTH 6.8 cm made many manju.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and age cracks. SARU Artist active from mid-19th
Provenance: British collection. IKKOSAI century to the Meiji era,
inspired by Kaigyokusai
Auction comparison: Compare to an almost identical netsuke by school. His main subjects
Tomochika sold at Lempertz, The Papp Collection of Netsuke, 16 were animals, mostly
June 2018, Cologne, lot 1057. monkeys.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.500,- fig.1 “Saru” Ikkosai (lots 135, 136 & 138)

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