Page 159 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

173 | A SUPERB AND UNUSUAL STAG ANTLER
NETSUKE OF A FOREIGNER
Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke, p. 69.
Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Sweden, Stockholm, 16 October
1999 – 9 January 2000.

A stag antler carving depicting a hooded man completely enveloped
in his robe, with only the face and hands in the back visible. The
face is certainly that of a foreigner, the curly beard very much
resembling a Dutchman’s facial hair in netsuke art. The man is
smiling with wide-opened eyes, the pupils inlaid in dark horn. The
folds of the robe are superbly carved, tassels hang from the man’s
belt, as well as a double gourd, perhaps the man is a foreigner
disguised as a monk, the gourd being a religious symbol and
holding the elixir of life. The naturally hollow section of the antler
in the bottom is used as the himotoshi, which leads all the way to
the other cord hole in the backside, above the beautifully carved,
gnarled hands.
HEIGHT 9.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, age crack through the back.
Provenance: Ex collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

172 | AN EXCELLENT STAG ANTLER NETSUKE
OF A STANDING DUTCHMAN

Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Carved as a standing curly-haired Dutchman with a wide-brimmed
hat, formed by the natural corona of the antler. The dutchman has
a finely carved grotesque expression, his hands placed in front of
him in a praying gesture, entirely hidden underneath his cloak. The
surface has developed a beautiful patina, unique to the material.
Large, asymmetrical himotoshi.
HEIGHT 9 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, natural flaws. The hat possibly with
some old chips, though most likely natural.
Provenance: British private collection.

The use of the corona as a hat is considerably rare, see for example
Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler
Carving in Japan, Part 1, pp. 208f., no. 58.
Literature comparison: For a similar netsuke see Wilhelm, Gabor:
On the continent. In: International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 16,
no. 2, Summer 1996, p. 49, no. 359.
Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,-

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