Page 158 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

STAG ANTLER & ASAKUSA NETSUKE

170 | MUNETOMO: AN AMUSING
STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF HOTEI
BEING CRUSHED BY HIS BAG

By Munetomo (Sochi), signed Kudo ani no tame,
Munetomo to
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Barry Davies Oriental Art (1996) Netsuke
from the Teddy Hahn Collection, pp. 112f., no. 160.

A relatively large and tactile, pebble-shaped netsuke
depicting the lucky god Hotei shown here typically
pot-bellied and exclaiming as he is crushed by his huge
sack, visible in the back. The heavily porous, spongiform
material is visible in the top and bottom. The backside
with himotoshi and inscription Kudo ani no tame,
MUNETOMO 宗知 to, which means ‘for my brother/
mentor/esquire Kudo, by Munetomo’. It could, however,
also be casually translated: ‘to a jolly good fellow Mr Kudo’
– as this netsuke has a possible hidden Shunga meaning,
since Hotei’s sack is sometimes referred to as Kobukuro
子袋 (meaning womb or baby sac) and could thus relate
to female private parts.

SIZE 5 x 5.5 x 2.2 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with a fine, light hand
patina and ‘natural flaws’ to the material.
Provenance: Ex Teddy Hahn collection, then British
private collection.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

171 | A RARE STAG ANTLER SHUNGA
NETSUKE OF OKAME AND
TENGU MASKS
169 | A LARGE AND RARE IVORY MANJU
NETSUKE OF TAMAMO NO MAE Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Unsigned
Japan, second half of 19th century
Carved as the mask of the Shinto goddess Okame
behind the mask of a long-nosed tengu. Okame
The legendary courtesan depicted atop a nine-tailed fox, holding is suggestively grinning at the phallic shape of the
a fan, with rays of sunlight emanating from above her. The carving exaggeratedly long nose. The use of the material
is in shishiabori (sunken relief) and shows fine details such as the is superior. A branch section of antler was used,
individual garment folds and patterns on her clothes. The backside with the long nose resembling a natural branch,
of this unusually thick manju shows a banner showing a humanoid brilliantly utilized. The central section is hollow.
kitsune holding a fan and a bow and arrow. Only the underside really shows the characteristic
porous surface of the antler, the rest appears like
DIAMETER 6.1 cm, THICKNESS 2 cm beautifully stained ivory. One pierced himotoshi
and the other natural through the hollow section
Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected surface wear between the two masks.
Provenance: Old Zagreb private collection.
HEIGHT 3.3 cm, LENGTH 6.3 cm
Literature comparison: For another manju with the same depiction
see Barry Davies Oriental Art (1996) Netsuke from the Teddy Hahn Condition: Very good condition.
Collection, pp. 120f., no. 177. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
A Woodblock print showing
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Tamamo no Mae with similar Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,- rays of sunlight above her. Starting price EUR 750,-

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