Page 91 - Fine Japanese Art March 27, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Okimono

88 | A RARE AND FINE NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD
NETSUKE OF A SLEEPING FARMER
Unsigned
Japan, Nagoya, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Condition: Very good condition with a beautiful patina. Miniscule
wear to the edge of one foot.
Provenance: American private collection, purchased from Midori
A beautifully rounded, ideally shaped netsuke with a warm Gallery.
patina, depicting a famer fast asleep and holding a rope attached
to a harvesting bag. The expression is masterful and serene, Though unsigned, this piece exhibits all the defining attributes of a
reminiscent of the sleeping Nagoya school Shojos by Tadatoshi and Nagoya school netsuke, though instead of being one of a hundred
related carvers. Finely incised hair, well-carved garment folds and sleeping Shojo, the depiction appears to be rather unique.
large, beautifully worn himotoshi through the bag and underside.
Estimate EUR 2.500,-
HEIGHT 3.2 cm Starting price EUR 1.250,-

89 | MASAKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE
OF THE FOX MOTHER KUZUNOHA
By Masakazu, signed Masakazu
Japan, Nagoya, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A finely carved, cherry wood Nagoya-school netsuke depicting the
fox mother Kuzunoha caressing her child Abe no Seimei wrapped
in a cloth and holding a paintbrush in her mouth. Fine hairwork,
very good detail to the child’s cloth and crisply carved paws. Natural
himotoshi between the paws and tail, where also the signature
MASAKAZU 正一 is found.
HEIGHT 3.6 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: French private collection, purchased from Alain Ducros
in 1988.
Literature comparison: For a similar example by Masakazu, see
In Japanese folklore there was a nobleman named Abe no Yasuna, Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on
who battled a hunter of foxes, and set free a white fox. He the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 199, no. 603. Another is illustrated
sustained several wounds in the battle, however a beautiful woman with a line drawing by Frederick Meinertzhagen in Meinertzhagen,
named Kuzunoha came along and nursed him back to health. The Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p.425.
woman turns out to be the fox he saved, taking on human form.
They fall in love and get married, and have a child named Abe no Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Seimei. Starting price EUR 2.500,-

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