Page 75 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

TSU & YAMADA SCHOOL

70 | TOMIN: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SHISHI
By Tomin, signed Tomin
Japan, Tsu, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The Buddhist lion seated, scratching its ear with one hind paw, its
two front paws decisively placed afore with a somewhat grim yet
satisfied expression, the pupils inlaid in horn. The curly mane is
masterfully carved, and the bushy tail trails underneath its body.
‘Natural’ himotoshi through one of the curls underneath. Signed in
ukibori characters TOMIN 東岷 inside a polished area. The wood
with a spectacular patina.
LENGTH 4.5 cm

Condition: Excellent condition, beautiful patina.
Provenance: Sotheby’s, 18 November 1999, London, lot 295. Then
Bonhams, 6 November 2012, London, lot 192 (£4.000) purchased
by Jacques Carré.
Auction comparison: The work is almost identical to a netsuke by
Tanaka Minko, showing the close link between the two Tsu carvers,
sold by Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8
November 2011, London, lot 25.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.500,-

69 | TOMIN: A RARE AND FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF
TWO RATS
By Tomin, signed Tomin with kakihan
Japan, Tsu, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Storno, François (2005) Le Netzké Errant, fig. 82.

The two rodents huddled close together, one rat with its body
almost entirely slouched over the other. The pair has bulging
eyes, not inlaid but raised from the wood, giving them a unique
appearance. The hairwork is finely incised, beautifully worn, and the
wood has developed a rich patina, very much like that of Nagoya
school pieces. The underside is equally beautiful, showing the
gnarly paws and the worm-like tails, joining to form the natural
himotoshi. Signed inside an oval reserve TOMIN 東岷 and kakihan.
HEIGHT 2.8 cm, LENGTH 4.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, beautiful wear and patina.
Provenance: Formerly collection Betty Jahss, offered at Sotheby’s
New York, 13th June 1991, lot 88.
Anonymous Sale, Sotheby’s New York, 16th December 1993, lot 86.
François Storno, Geneva. Rutherston & Bandini Ltd. Jacques Carré
collection, bought at the first sale of the former.
Rats are a rare subject by Tomin, and usually depicted in a cluster
– see for example Lazarnick, George (1982) Netsuke & Inro Artists,
and How to Read Their Signatures, Vol. 2, p. 1146.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.500,-

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