Page 232 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

261 | A FINE THREE-CASE WOOD INRO
OF A TORTOISE
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Naturalistically carved as a tortoise with its limbs almost entirely
retracted within its carapace. The reptile has its head reared slightly
to the left and the eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The underside
shows the finely carved, wrinkled and scaly clawed feet which
provide the cord runners, as if the tortoise was grasping at the
cord.
LENGTH 10.5 cm

Condition: Very good condition, minor wear to the areas
surrounding the cord runners.
Provenance: British collection.
Literature comparison: For a discussion of this type of inro,
probably offered as 60th birthday gifts, see Kress, Heinze and Elise:
Tortoise-shaped Wooden Inrō Carved by the Left-handed (左 =
Hidari) Ichizan (Issan) 一山,, Resident of Aizu (Wakamatsu), North of
Fukushimain. In: International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 38, no.
4, Winter 2019, pp. 47-51.
Auction comparison: Compare to a very similar inro, signed
Tomokazu, sold at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 10 November 2016,
London, lot 185.

Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,-

260 | SHOZAN: A RARE FOUR-CASE
WOOD INRO WITH DRAGON
Signed Shozan with seal Okuyama
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Finely carved and depicting a dragon among
billowing clouds, Mount Fuji in the background,
the reverse showing an old pine tree standing
by a gushing waterfall under swirling clouds.
The bottom signed SHOZAN 松山 and with seal
Okuyama 奥山.

HEIGHT 9.3 cm
Condition: Very good condition.
Provenance: European collection.
Though the artist appears to be unknown the
design and execution shows similarities with
Hidari Issan of Iwashiro.

Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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