Page 152 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE

157 | MICHAEL BIRCH: A RARE WALRUS TUSK IVORY
SHUNGA NETSUKE OF A YAWNING DARUMA

By Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008), signed with the artist’s initials
‘MHB’
Late 20th century

Carved from walrus tusk, perhaps the only time Michael Birch
carved from this material, and depicting a very amusing yawning
Daruma, with a large cavernous mouth and precisely carved
tongue on the inside. The squinting eyes and stifled yawn create a
wry expression. The composition is tactile and ideally shaped as a
netsuke and the material is superbly polished, gleaming and with a
beautiful grain, especially to the backside which shows the playful
nature of the material, which was a constant source of inspiration
to Michael Birch. Signed above the himotoshi in the back inside a
gold cartouche ‘MHB’.

The archetype of this netsuke, which was a special order, can be
seen in Birch, JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, pp. 28f.
The first netsuke of this type was carved by Michael Birch from a
billiard ball and as a gift to his father, in return for a childhood gift
of the same subject. When comparing the manner of the nose to
the three netsuke depicted in the book, one can see the shunga
undertones – when Michael Birch was asked about it, he smilingly
denied any intent.
HEIGHT 4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: Ex collection John and Donnie Hawley.
158 | MICHAEL BIRCH: A STAG ANTLER NETSUKE
OF A CROUCHING DUTCHMAN
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
By Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008), signed with artist’s initials 159 | MICHAEL BIRCH: THE GHOSTLY GHOST
‘MHB’
1994 By Michael Henry Birch (1926-2008), signed with artist’s initials ‘MHB’
1997
Published:
Birch, JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, p. 88. Published: Birch, JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, p. 25.
Burditt, David: Michael Birch. In: International Netsuke Society Exhibited: The Carvings of Michael Henry Birch, International
Journal, Volume 16, no.2, Summer 1996, p. 40, fig. 11. Netsuke Society Convention, Honolulu, 1997.
Exhibited:
Sotheby’s Bond St. London, 1994.
The Carvings of Michael Henry Birch, N.K.C, New York, 1997. After being prompted by fellow carver friend Ryushi to carve a
ghost of total freedom, Michael Birch decided to carve an entirely
different ghost, a truly ghostly ghost, tightly coiled and compact,
Carved from a superb piece of stag antler near the corona and at one with the dark flames from which she was about to spring
depicting a crouching Dutchman, possibly inspecting something up and startle her treacherous lover. Michael Birch carved this
at a low level. As JKL Birch notes, knowing Michael Birch’s sense of ghost from a flawless section of (deeply stained) ivory cut from an
humor, the Dutchman is probably not inspecting something but exceptionally rare piece of North American mastodon tusk given
rather flashing his behind. The porous sections of the antler are to him by fellow carver Masatoshi (catalog no. 153) sixteen years
filled with clear lacquer, giving the surface a unique glossy feel, the before he made this netsuke. The fossil ivory is over a million years
clasp is inlaid in pink coral and the blue eyes in a drawn crystal rod. old (!).
Signed within a gold lacquer cartouche ‘MHB’.
For the full description of this netsuke, by Michael Birch, see Birch,
HEIGHT (when standing) c. 5 cm JKL (2013) The Art & Life of Michael Birch, p. 25.
Condition: Excellent HEIGHT 5.3 cm
condition.
Provenance: Swiss Condition: Excellent condition.
private collection. Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,- Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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