Page 191 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

212 | NAGAMICHI SHUZAN:
A RARE SAISHIKI NETSUKE
OF CHINNAN SENNIN
By Nagamichi Shuzan, signed Shuzan
Japan, Osaka, late 18th to early 19th
century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999)
Netsuke, p. 31.
Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet,
Sweden, Stockholm, 16 October 1999 –
9 January 2000.

A dynamically crafted, expressively
carved boxwood netsuke with applied
polychrome pigments. Depicted is
Chinnan Sennin in a dancing posture
with one foot placed on the dragon he
has conjured, the scaly serpentine body
of the mythical being winding around the
Sennin’s back. The applied polychrome
pigments are worn. Large, asymmetrical
himotoshi through the back and signed
in tensho underneath the right leg
SHUZAN 周山.
HEIGHT 9 cm
Condition: The end of the dragon’s tail
has been lost a long time ago and is worn
down and smooth. Expected losses to
polychrome pigments.
Provenance: Ex-collection Mrs. Gunvor
Bjorkman with two old collection or
inventory numbers ‘A 115’ and ‘G 741’.

Literature comparison: A similar netsuke
is shown in Meinertzhagen, Frederick /
Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p.
801.
213 | SHUZAN: A TALL SAISHIKI WOOD
Estimate EUR 2.000,- NETSUKE OF TEKKAI SENNIN
Starting price EUR 1.000,-
After Yoshimura Shuzan, signed Shuzan with kakihan
Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke, p. 63.
Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Sweden, Stockholm, 16 October
1999 – 9 January 2000.

Expressively carved as Tekkai Sennin exhaling his spirit. Tekkai has
finely carved garment folds and holds his long flowing beard, as he
looks upwards, pressing his lips forward, the eyes are finely painted.
The worn hinoki (cypress) wood shows remnants of gesso and
polychrome pigments. Large himotoshi and signature SHUZAN 周山
and kakihan on the back.
HEIGHT 12.7 cm
Condition: Good, worn condition. Some cracks, losses and
significant wear to paint.
Provenance: Ex-collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

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