Page 13 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono
P. 13

2 |   AN EARLY IVORY
                                                                                                                                   NETSUKE OF HOTEI
                                                                                                                             Unsigned
                                                                                                                             Japan, 17th century, Edo period
                                                                                                                             (1615-1868)


                                                                                                                             A very Chinese rendering of the lucky god
                                                                                                                             Hotei (in Chinese Budai), dressed only in
                                                                                                                             a loincloth, his features well-worn. The
                                                                                                                             backside shows a stunning glossy honey
                                                                                                                             patina and the himotoshi are deep and
                                                                                                                             appropriately worn.

                                                                                                                             HEIGHT 3.5 cm
                                                                                                                             Condition: Good, age-related condition                            4 |   AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE
                                                                                                                             with age cracks and stunning patina.                                   OF HOTEI WITH KARAKO
                                                                                                                             Provenance: British collection.
                                                                                                                                                                                               Unsigned
                                                                                                                             Estimate EUR 1.000,-                                              Japan, early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)  LENGTH 6.2 cm
                                                                                                                             Starting price EUR 500,-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Condition: Good condition with expected wear.
                                                                                                                                                                                               The lucky god Hotei is lying against his bag of treasure, his   Provenance: British collection.
                                                                                                                                                                                               characteristically large belly protruding from his robe. A Chinese
                                                                                                                                                                                               boy climbs up over his back and rubs his smooth bald head. Large,   Estimate EUR 1.000,-
                                                                                                                                                                                               deep himotoshi, indicative of an early piece. Stunning honey patina.  Starting price EUR 500,-







                                                                                                                             3 |   A RARE AND EARLY
                                                                                                                                   MARINE IVORY NETSUKE
                                                                                                                                   OF A BIZEN MODEL                                                                                         5 |   AN IVORY NETSUKE OF HOTEI
                                                                                                                                   OF HOTEI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Unsigned
                                                                                                                             Unsigned                                                                                                       Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
                                                                                                                             Japan, 17th century, Edo period
                                                                                                                             (1615-1868)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            An amusing, early ivory
                                                                                                                             Faithfully modelled after a Bizen-ceramic                                                                      netsuke of triangular shape
                                                                                                                             figure of Hotei. The pot-bellied lucky god                                                                     when viewed from the top,
                                                                                                                             holds an uchiwa fan in one hand and the                                                                        characteristically flattened in
                                                                                                                             cord of his sack in the other. The marine                                                                      the reverse. Depicted is a jolly
                                                                                                                             ivory is worn and shows a stunning                                                                             bare-chested Hotei, standing
                                                                                                                             patina in playful combination with                                                                             with his treasure bag draped
                                                                                                                             the natural inclusions of the material,                                                                        over his shoulder, his belly
                                                                                                                             creating a unique surface. The underside                                                                       typically protruding from his
                                                                                                                             is hollow, as is usual for ceramic figures,                                                                    robe. Himotoshi and beautiful
                                                                                                                             and functions as the natural himotoshi,                                                                        glistening yellow-orange patina
                                                                                                                             the other being in the backside.                                                                               to the reverse.

                                                                                                                             HEIGHT 4.4 cm                                                                                                  HEIGHT 7.2 cm
                                                                                                                             Condition: The surface is worn with some                                                                       Condition: Age cracks, expected
                                                                                                                             discoloration to the crevices. A small                                                                         wear, beautiful patina. Good,
                                                                                                                             chip to the underside. Generally, in good                                                                      complete condition.
                                                                                                                             condition with a stunning patina.                                                                              Provenance: French private
                                                                                                                             Provenance: Old Zagreb private                                                                                 collection, old collection
                                                                                                                             collection.                                                                                                    number ‘3.218’.
                                                                                                                             Estimate EUR 1.000,-                                                                                           Estimate EUR 1.500,-
                                                                                                                             Starting price EUR 500,-                                                                                       Starting price EUR 750,-



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