Page 35 - Japnese Art Netsuke, Okimono, Lempertz June 2, 2019

314 A boxwood netsuke of a shishi with a ball.
Early 19th century

Seated on an irregular base, the head turned
back, the left forepaw placed on a ball with a
large opening. The eye pupils inlaid. Chips.
Height 3.8 cm
€ 1.000 – 1.300

314

315 A wood netsuke of a mukuge-inu.
19th century

Seated on his long tail a ball between his paws,
snarling, the head turned. Inscribed Tametaka
on a slightly raised oval-shaped reserve.

The present piece could also be a study of a
musk cat (jakoneko). These animals became
popular for their musks used for perfume.

Our piece matches Frederick Meinertzhagen’s
opinion on a netsuke in his collection (see
MCI, p. 854, wood netsuke of a ‚Chin’ with
bushy tail). He states that being a careful copy
it does lack the artistic quality of Tametaka’s
original works. Both Meinertzhagen’s and the
present piece feature a similar oval-shaped
reserve forming a point at the bottom).
Height 4.3 cm
Provenance
Nagel, Stuttgart, 7. 5. 2011, lot 1932
€ 1.200 – 1.600

315

34