Page 143 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

148 | YASUTAKA: A TOKYO SCHOOL IVORY
NETSUKE OF A BOY WITH DRUM
By Yasutaka (Hoko), signed Yasutaka
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Carved as a seated smiling boy peeling the skin of a drum before
him. His clothes are stained in green, decorated with various
patterns and embellished with floral elements of silver and
horn. The himotoshi on the underside ringed in horn next to the
signature within a red-lacquered cartouche YASUTAKA 保孝 – a
pupil of Yasuaki (catalog nos. 145, 146 & 149).
HEIGHT 3 cm

Condition: Very good condition with only very minor wear.
Provenance: French private collection.
147 | TAKAMURA KOUN: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE Estimate EUR 1.000,-
OF A BOY PLAYING THE SHELL MATCHING Starting price EUR 500,-
GAME
By Takamura Koun (born 1852), signed Koun
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The boy, with a charming expression, holds up a shell next to his
head with one hand, the other hand holding one half of a shell,
revealing a drum-shaped structure inside. The boy is playing
the shell matching game (Awase-Gai). His clothes are finely
stained in green and adorned with various intricate patterns, as
well as inlaid with floral elements made from silver and horn. A
pouch is tied to the boy’s obi at the back. The underside with
the himotoshi ringed in horn and the signature inside a red-
lacquered cartouche KOUN 光雲.
HEIGHT 3.4 cm 149 | YASUAKI: A FINE
IVORY NETSUKE
Condition: Good condition with minor losses to inlays and a tiny OF A SEATED MAN
chip to the signature cartouche.
Provenance: French private collection. By Yasuaki (Homei), signed Yasuaki
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Takamura Koun was an appointed professor of carving at the
Tokyo Art School. He was also an art adviser to the imperial
household. A fine, small carving depicting a seated
man with a movable head and tongue.
Estimate EUR 1.500,- The man has both of his hands placed
Starting price EUR 750,- on his lap, his trousers are stained in
green, and the hat behind him is tied
in the front with a minutely carved
green-stained rope. His entire robe
is embellished with green-stained
ivory, horn and mother-of-pearl. The
underside with the himotoshi ringed in
horn and the signature on his behind
in seal form YASUAKI 保明 (Homei)
within a red-lacquer cartouche. The
ivory is superbly polished and lustrous
in its appearance.
HEIGHT 2.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition with
only very minor wear.
Provenance: French private collection.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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