Page 142 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

145 | YASUAKI: A SUPERB INLAID IVORY
TOKYO SCHOOL NETSUKE OF NASAKEJI
OPENING THE TREASURE BOX
By Kodama Yasuaki, signed Yasuaki (Homei)
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

An incredibly fine and detailed study of Nasakeji opening a treasure
box, the inside showing coins, scrolls and jewelry inlaid in stained
horn, ivory, mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell. This depiction
relates to the story of the tongue cut sparrow. Nasakeji, here shown
as a bucktoothed old and simple man, is visibly surprised from the
contents of the box – the facial features are sensitively crafted with
a superior sense of detail. The backside shows a tabako-ire set
tied to his obi, with a coral netsuke, mother-of-pearl ojime, green-
stained ivory cord and a tortoise shell tonkotsu. The underside
shows the himotoshi and signature YASUAKI 保明 (Homei) with
inlaid seal Kodama 見玉.
HEIGHT 3.8 cm

Condition: Superb condition.
Provenance: French private collection.
Auction comparison: An almost identical model was just sold
recently by Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono,
2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 197.
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

146 | YASUAKI: A VERY FINE TOKYO SCHOOL
IVORY NETSUKE OF A WOMAN CUTTING
HER TOENAILS
By Yasuaki (Homei), signed Yasuaki
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

A fine carving depicting a woman wearing a headscarf and dressed
in a green-stained kimono underneath a vest, the clothing forming
elaborate folds. Her entire robe is finely embellished with inlays of
mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell. The seated lady bends forward
to cut her toenails with clippers, inlaid in dark horn. Her facial
features are very fine, and she wears tortoise shell spectacles. The
ivory is superbly polished. The underside with himotoshi ringed in
horn next to the signature YASUAKI 保明 (Homei) in red pigment.

HEIGHT 3 cm
Condition: Few fine age cracks. Very good condition.
Provenance: French private collection.
Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Yasufusa, see
Christie’s, Art of Japan, 8 December 2016, London, lot 15.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

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