Page 229 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

258 | A VERY FINE THREE-CASE IVORY SHIBAYAMA 259 | SHIBAYAMA AND SHOKASAI: A VERY FINE INLAID
INLAID INRO WITH SHISHI AND PEONIES FOUR-CASE INRO WITH SHISHI

Unsigned The lacquer work by Shokasai and the inlay by the Shibayama family,
Japan, second half of 19th century signed Shokasai and Shibayama
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Allen, George (1899) Specimens of Japanese Art from
the Collection of Michael Tomkinson, p. 126, no. 311.
A four-case inro with a gold kinji ground, the front finely inlaid with a
prancing mother-of-pearl Shishi, with meticulously incised bushy tail and
The three-case inro is carved from ivory and densely embellished curly mane, amidst rockwork executed in gold lacquer takamaki-e and
on both sides with neatly incised inlays of coral, horn, stained ivory, with gold kirigane flakes. The reverse shows a waterfall and pinetree.
malachite and mother-of-pearl in high relief, the scene depicting Signed on the underside in gold SHOKASAI 松可齋 and within a mother-
two Shishi amongst rockwork and peonies. Attached plain, of-pearl cartouche SHIBAYAMA 芝山. The interior of dense, fine nashiji.
smoothly polished ivory ojime.
HEIGHT 8.1 cm
HEIGHT 9.4 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor associated wear and surface
Condition: Very good scratches. Old restoration to the top of the top case.
condition with minor Provenance: French private collection, formerly Ader, 26 November
wear. Not a single inlay is 1962, lot 170 (old lot number inside the top case of the inro).
missing!
Provenance: Ex. Michael Auction comparison: An almost identical inro sold at Christie’s, The
Tomkinson collection, with William F. du Pont Collection of Netsuke and Inro, 1 November 1996,
old label to base. New York, lot 98 (4.370 USD).
Estimate EUR 4.000,- Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,- Starting price EUR 1.500,-

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