Page 89 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

85 | TADASHIGE: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE 87 | TAMETAKA: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A
OF KIYOHIME DUTCH WOMAN WITH CHILD AND TRUMPET
By Tadashige, signed Tadashige By Tametaka, signed Minamoto Tametaka
Japan, Nagoya, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Japan, Nagoya, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The serpentine monster Kiyohime depicted atop the bell of A highly unusual netsuke depicting a Dutch woman holding a
Dojo-ji, her finely carved dragon-like body tightly coiled around tasseled trumpet and supporting a Chinese boy on her back.
the bell. She holds a mallet in her right hand, her face is carved Both faces are crafted very amusingly, the eyes double inlaid in
expressively and her long flowing hair in the back is finely pale translucent horn with dark pupils. The garment folds are
incised. The ribbed surface of the bronze bell is achieved very accentuated, and the hair of the woman is finely incised. Unusually,
well and the surface shows decorations of dragons in low relief. her skirt is covered in neatly incised artemisia leaves. Large
The wood is of a typical, good color. Singular himotoshi in the himotoshi through the back and signature on inlaid stag antler
back, the other ‘natural’ through the opening of the bell. Signed cartouche Minamoto TAMETAKA 爲隆.
underneath - west of Kinjo (castle of Nagoya) TADASHIGE 利重.
HEIGHT 6.9 cm
HEIGHT 5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor associated wear.
Condition: Very good condition, fine patina. Provenance: European collection.
Provenance: European collection.
Literature comparison: A similar netsuke (only the signature is
Literature comparison: Compare to a similar netsuke of Kiyohime illustrated) is published in Lazarnick, George (1982) Netsuke & Inro
by Tadashige, bearing a similar inscription, in Meinertzhagen, Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, Vol. 2, p. 1077.
Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, page 933.
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Starting price EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,-

86 | MASAYOSHI: A WOOD OKIMONO NETSUKE
OF A FRUSTRATED RAT CATCHER

By Masayoshi, signed Masayoshi (Seikei)
Japan, Nagoya, second half of 19th century

The rat catcher, equipped with a long club, is holding down
a box with one hand in an effort to catch the rat, which has
escaped – the usual fate of this poor character. The rat catcher
has a powerful expression, his facial features are distorted as he
screams in agony, almost appearing like a demon, as he turns
his head to view the nimble rat, which is innocently perched
atop his shoulder. All eyes are inlaid in dark horn. A detailed and
bold carving – note the emaciated body, bony limbs and smooth
polish of the wood. Signature MASAYOSHI 正慶 (Seikei) on the
underside of the loincloth.

HEIGHT 4.4 cm
Condition: Very good condition.
Provenance: Old Zagreb private collection.
Masayoshi (alternatively read Seikei), was a pupil of Masakazu
and Masasada, and was best known for his fine netsuke-okimono
of rat catchers.

Literature comparison: Compare to another netsuke by
Masayoshi of a rat catcher in wood illustrated in Coullery, Marie-
Thérèse / Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, p. 221,
C 590.
Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke-okimono see Zacke,
Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna,
lot 193 (2.891 EUR).
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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