Page 171 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

187 | HOSHUNSAI MASAYUKI: A MASTERFUL
STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A DRAGON-HEADED
MOKUGYO
By Hoshunsai Masayuki, signed Masayuki
Japan, Asakusa, Tokyo, second half of 19th century

A Buddhist mokugyo (wooden fish-gong) with two confronting
dragon heads sharing a tama (magical pearl) between their mouths.
The dragon heads are dramatically three-dimensional, and one of
them is covered in heavily spongiform material, yet still as finely
carved as its opposite – a true masterpiece in every sense of the
word! Thus, they appear like confronting opposites, embodying
the yin and yang principle of ancient Chinese philosophy – a great
source of inspiration to the Asakusa carvers. The long horns of
the dragons extend downwards to either side of the instrument,
forming fine curls along the way, and encircling an elaborate pierce-
carved formal design on each side, raised above an openworked
wave ground. Central himotoshi above the signature in a raised
square reserve in seal form MASAYUKI 正之. The other himotoshi
‘natural’ through the opening of the gong on the underside.

HEIGHT 4.3 cm
Condition: Very good condition with one age crack near the
signature.
Provenance: Ancient collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921)
collection no. 262. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile industrialist
and art collector specializing particularly in works from Japan. He
is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Additional collection no. 490.
Literature comparison: Compare to similar netsuke in Sydney L.
Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in
Japan, Part 3, pp. 98-191,
nos. 391-393.
Auction comparison:
Compare to a similar netsuke
sold at Van Ham, Netsuke &
Japanische Kunst, 8 December
2016, Cologne, lot 1675.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.500,-

Portrait of Charles Cartier-Bresson by Jean-Matthias Schiff
in the Museum of Fine Arts Nancy

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