Page 16 - Bonhams Fine Japanese Art London November 2018

A Selection of Netsuke

from The Jack Coutu Collection

(Lots 19-28)

Jack Coutu, ARE, ARCA (1924-2017) was a distinguished ジャック・クーツは有能な版画家、彫刻家、彫板家、銅版画家、水彩画家
consummate English printmaker, sculptor, engraver, etcher, そして教師であり、日本の根付に魅了され、1975年に根付、煙草入れや印
watercolourist and teacher who became fascinated with Japanese 籠の制作を始めました。次の10点のロットに見受けられるように、彼の好
netsuke and began producing netsuke, pipe-cases and inro in 1975. みの媒体は猪牙と柘植でした。私生活では、彼はいくらか内気で、彼の作
As can be seen in the following ten lots, he favoured boar-tusk and
boxwood as his preferred media. In private, he was somewhat 成した参照カードの記述に反映されるように、謙虚で自己批判的な傾向
reserved and, as reflected in his notes on his reference cards, modest にありました。私たちは今回のセールでクーツの作品の小さなセレクショ
and self-deprecatory. We are very pleased to offer a small selection of ンを提供できることを大変嬉しく思います。近日中にオンライン限定のセ
his work in this sale; a further selection will be offered in an online-only ールで更なるセレクションをご紹介させて頂きます。
sale in the near future.

19 21
A LARGE BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE A LARGE BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved in October 1982 By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved in November 1988
Carved in low relief with a powerful design of a hunting badger stalking Carved in low relief with a young bird on a branch, with silver inlaid
a fleeing bird, on a partially stippled ground, the one visible eye with blossom and the one visible eye inlaid with dark horn, an ebony plug at
an inlaid dark horn pupil, the broad end plugged with ebony and the broad end; signed on a silver tablet JC.
embellished with a silver moon; signed on a silver tablet JC. 12.8cm (5in) long. (2).
16.6cm (6½in) long. (2).
£1,000 - 1,500
£1,000 - 1,500 JPY150,000 - 220,000
JPY150,000 - 220,000 US$1,300 - 2,000
US$1,300 - 2,000
Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.152), on which
Published he states: ‘This tusk had a light crack along the bottom edge which
The International Netsuke Society Journal, vol.15, no.4, p.42. suggested the composition. The plum blossom was inlaid in silver.’

Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.96), on which he 22
states: ‘A good strong carving which could be said to have a slight A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE
coarseness of texture, particularly when enlarged (When does strength By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved in September 1975
become coarseness?). I am a little apprehensive as to what may Carved in low and high relief with a dragonfly hovering over reeds, the
happen to the moon if the tone wears off the silver.’ broad end plugged with boxwood; signed on a silver tablet JC.
11.cm (4 3/8in) long. (2).
20
A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE £1,000 - 1,500
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved in January 1995 JPY150,000 - 220,000
Carved in low relief with the ghost of a woman rising from a vapour US$1,300 - 2,000
cloud, her eyes inlaid with mother-of-pearl and the broad end plugged
with boxwood; signed on a silver tablet JC. Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.47), on which he
12.4cm (4 7/8in). (2). states: ‘This piece split at the base and I was forced to design the
reeds to hide the problem. It worked quite well and is very strong.’
£1,000 - 1,500
JPY150,000 - 220,000 23
US$1,300 - 2,000 A BOXWOOD NETSUKE OF A WILD BOAR
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved in January 1980
Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.245), on which he Seated, facing ahead and with its forelegs bent as it prepares to rise,
states: ‘The end with the plug indicated decay. The eyes are mother- the wood dark stained and the eye pupils inlaid with dark horn; signed
of-pearl. I rather liked the “blank” look but did consider giving the eyes on a silver tablet JC. 5.9cm (2 3/8in). (2).
pupils. I did some drawings a year or two before but could not see my
way to completing it.’ £1,000 - 1,500
JPY150,000 - 220,000
US$1,300 - 2,000
Exhibited
Contrasting Styles, London, 1980, p.49, no.106.

Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.75), on which he
states: ‘This is a typically Japanese subject and my knowledge of
boars is not great! However, it turned out quite satisfactory from my
viewpoint, but was a little larger than I had intended.’

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
14 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.