Page 117 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

FOREIGNERS

&OREIGNERS ALSO CALLED Nanban, as they usually approached Japan from the South) hold a special place in netsuke art as they aroused
great curiosity in the Japanese mind, since Japan was virtually closed off from the rest of the world due to the isolationist policy of
the Tokugawa shogunate. Foreigners were almost never seen by the public as they were isolated and strictly watched, such as the
$UTCH WHO WERE CONlNED TO THE ISLAND OF $EJIMA #ARVERS HAD TO RELY ON RUMORS PAINTINGS OR WOODBLOCK PRINTS AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE
appearances and features of these foreigners were increasingly exaggerated throughout the arts, lending very well to the caricaturist
nature of the netsuke carver.

150 151
AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A GROTESQUE FOREIGNER WITH AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A GROTESQUE DUTCHMAN WITH
DRUM AND MONKEY BY MASAHARU TWO DOGS
"Y -ASAHARU IVORY NETSUKE WITH HORN INLAY Unsigned, ivory netsuke
th
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Japan, 18 CENTURY %DO PERIOD 152 153
th
AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A DUTCHMAN WITH A RARE AND LARGE IVORY OKIMONO NETSUKE OF A
An unusual ivory netsuke of a deformed man, probably a 4HE $UTCH WERE THE ONLY FOREIGNERS ALLOWED AFTER THE 4OKUGAWA CHILD SHIP FULL OF DUTCHMEN
foreigner, holding a stick in one hand and placing his other government virtually closed off Japan and expelled the Portuguese Unsigned, ivory netsuke Unsigned, ivory okimono netsuke
th
th
hand on a drum with inlaid horn buttons. Next to the drum IN 4HE $UTCH WERE CONlNED TO THE ISLAND OF $ESHIMA @EXIT Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Japan, late 18 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
is a little monkey with inlaid eyes seated on a sack with a fan island’) in Nagasaki bay, therefore relatively little was known
underneath, perhaps suggesting that it is Hotei’s treasure sack. about them and netsuke carvers knew of them predominantly ! STANDING $UTCHMAN WITH A GROTESQUE FACE IS ! TOTAL OF EIGHT $UTCHMAN POPULATE THIS LARGE TWO TIERED SHIP
Good and large himotoshi on the underside of the drum next FROM WOODBLOCK PRINTS 4HEREFORE DEPICTIONS OF $UTCHMEN WERE A beating a drum, the sides inlaid with horn buttons, with an expressive dragon prow. The front and back show
to the signature MASAHARU. mixture of caricatures combined with known elements, sometimes which he is holding in his raised hand. His parodic two lookouts, one with a telescope, and the ship is powered
even bordering the grotesque, rather than exact portraits. facial expression shows he is deep into the groove, BY TWO OARSMEN ON EACH SIDE 4HE OTHER $UTCHMEN ARE ALL
HEIGHT 3.5 CM his eyes are inlaid with dark horn. He is wearing a relaxing, enjoying themselves and smoking their pipes, except
An early netsuke of triangular shape with a very good patina headpiece and a long, densely patterned garment. for the one who is crawling out of the structure by the bow
Condition: Age cracks and two horn buttons lost, generally in SHOWING CONSIDERABLE WEAR $EPICTED IS A GROTESQUE VERSION OF A A boy is sitting by his feet, blowing a trumpet with with a very amusing facial expression. The ship is decorated
good condition $UTCHMAN WITH PARODIED FEATURES SUCH AS THE VERY LARGE NOSE AND all his power. Himotoshi through the man’s behind with waves on the underside next to the central himotoshi,
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman silly expression. He is wearing the characteristic hat, has long hair and one leg. A fine composition imbued with a lot of though the carving was likely used as an okimono.
AND IS HOLDING A FAN AMUSINGLY SUGGESTING THE $UTCHMAN IS LIKE movement.
Estimate EUR 800,- Sennin and gods, of otherworldly origin. Two playful dogs are HEIGHT 6 CM, LENGTH 10 CM
Starting price EUR 400,- seated in front of him embracing each other. The garments of the HEIGHT 5.2 CM
$UTCHMAN ARE lNELY DECORATED WITH LEAVES AND THE LARGE himotoshi Condition: The ivory worn with some cracks, the telescope
are found in the back and underside. Condition: Worn condition, minor losses to inlay of OF THE $UTCHMAN AT THE STERN IS RESTORED GENERALLY IN GOOD
the drum, and a chip to the edge of the garments of condition with yellow-honey patina in some areas
HEIGHT 3.8 CM THE $UTCHMAN 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
Condition: Expected age cracks and wear – good and complete Estimate EUR 2.000,-
condition Estimate EUR 800,- Starting price EUR 1.000,-
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman Starting price EUR 400,-
Estimate EUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-

114 115