Page 225 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

255 | KOMA KORYU: A VERY FINE GOLD
AND SILVER FOUR-CASE INRO OF
MANDARIN DUCKS AND SNOW
254 | KOMA KORYU:
A FINE FOUR-CASE By Koma Koryu, signed Koma Koryu saku
LACQUERED INRO Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Art at Auction, The Year at Sotheby Parke
By Koma Koryu, signed Koma Koryu saku Bernet 1978/79, p. 329.
with kakihan
Japan, 19th century, Edo period
(1615-1868) The four-case inro with a fine gold-lacquered ground,
depicting a proud male oshidori (mandarin duck) seated
atop a snow-covered, blossoming ume (plum) tree.
Very finely lacquered wood inro with a The snow is executed in fine silver lacquer, as is the
black ground and embellished with gold, ducks’ breast-plumage, which is adorned with fine gold
silver and red takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, takamaki-e feathers. The gnarly tree is decorated with
kirigane and nashiji. Both sides decorated kirigane flakes. A branch of the plum tree extends to the
with images relating to the legend of the other side, which shows the female duck swimming in
tongue cut sparrow (shitakiri suzume). mildly wavy water. The eyes of the pair are inlaid, their
One side shows Nasakeji holding a cane crests are lacquered in black, and their beaks in orange
and wearing a basket filled with treasure lacquer. The underside with the signature KOMA KORYU
strapped to his back, being led away 古満巨柳 saku (made by). The interior of dense, fine
by a humanoid sparrow, all set below nashiji.
fine, leafy stalks of bamboo. The reverse
shows two further sparrows in human HEIGHT 8.1 cm
dress standing in front of the hidden
sparrow village inside a bamboo grove. Condition: Very good condition with extremely minor
The inside covered in dense nashiji. The expected wear and surface scratches.
underside signed KOMA KORYU 古満巨柳 Provenance: Purchased from Sotheby Parke Bernet,
saku (made) and kakihan. August 1978, London, lot 136 (1.300 GBP).
HEIGHT 10.2 cm Auction comparison: A similar inro by Koma Koryu
depicting pheasants and snow, was sold at Bonhams,
Condition: Excellent condition, with Fine Japanese Art, 7 November 2019, London, lot 42.
extremely minor wear to lacquer.
Provenance: British private collection. Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
The legend of the tongue cut sparrow
(shitakiri suzume) is a tale of friendship,
greed and jealousy. Nasakeji saved an
injured sparrow in the mountains and
cared for it at home, though his wife
did not approve of this. One day when
Nasakeji left again for the mountains,
his wife cut the sparrow’s tongue and
let it fly away. Nasakeji searched for his
sparrow friend along with other sparrows
and found him in a bamboo grove,
where many sparrows lived. They sang
and danced for Nasakeji and presented
him with a choice of a large or smaller
basket as a present. He chose the latter
as it would be lighter for him to carry.
When his wife found out that there was
a larger basket, she rushed to the village
to receive it, however in it were deadly
snakes, which startled her so much she
tumbled down the mountain to her
death.
Auction comparison: For an inro with
a similar design by Yamada Jokasai see
Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of
Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London,
lot 334.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.500,-

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