Page 238 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

266 | KYOKUSHO: AN IMPORTANT 267 | EISHI: A RARE STAG ANTLER
IVORY KISERUZUTSU KISERUZUTSU OF RAKANS
WITH THE EIGHT CHINESE
IMMORTALS By Eishi, signed Eishi
Japan, second half of 19th century
By Naito Akimatsu (Kyokusho), signed
Kyokusho
Japan, Tokyo, c. 1897, Meiji period Depicting the Rakan Handaka Sonja
(1868-1912) surrounded by a halo and lifting his alms
bowl aloft a Buddhist deity appearing from
the mist. Handaka Sonja wearing a hooded
Of muso-zutsu type and depicting in robe has an expressively carved face and his
extremely fine low relief, with miniscule dragon staff is visible on his back. The insert
incision work, the eight Chinese immortals shows an image of Rakan Kanaka Baridaja
He Xiangu, Cao Guojiu, Li Tieguai, Lan Caihe, Sonja (one of the eighteen arhats) holding
Lü Dongbin, Han Xiangzi, Zhang Guolao and his alms bowl aloft. The reverse decorated
Zhongli Quan. They are shown in various with an image of a pine tree, naturally
attitudes, mostly drunken, one of them worked with the porous structure of the
holding a large sake jar. Another has a goblet antler, which extends to the front side and
beside him and is holding a paintbrush, the forms the looped cord attachment. Signed in
scroll before him and a Chinese boy below the back EISHI 榮之.
him rubbing an ink stick on an ink stone.
Signed to the reverse inside an oval reserve HEIGHT 22.8 cm
KYOKUSHO 旭松.
Condition: Excellent condition.
HEIGHT 21 cm Provenance: Ancient collection Charles
Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921), collection no.
Condition: Very good condition, age cracks to 1003. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile
the bottom. industrialist and art collector specializing
Provenance: German private collection. particularly in works from Japan. He is the
great uncle of famous photographer Henri
Naito Akimatsu (Kyokusho) was a member of Cartier-Bresson. Additional collection no.
the Tokyo Sculptors’ Association from 1904 ‘355’.
to 1922.
In the list of competitions of the Tokyo Auction comparison: For some of the
Choko Kai (Tokyo Sculptors’ Association) he imagery influencing this design see a set
is mentioned as the winner of two awards of scrolls by Kawanabe Kyosai sold by
at the 12th sculpture competition held from Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 November
3-25 March 1897, one of them being for our 2015, London, lot 231.
kiseruzutsu of 8 Chinese Immortals (Source:
Yasutami, Fukui (1996), History of Japanese Estimate EUR 1.000,-
Ivory Carving, p. 237.) Starting price EUR 500,-
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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

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