Page 124 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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A VERY RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A
GIGANTIC ISLANDER WITH A PORTUGUESE
BY NOBUFUSA
"Y .OBUFUSA IVORY NETSUKE
Japan, early 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
This netsuke shows an island native, presumably
the giant Kochi, he is naked except for a
loincloth. Very well executed, the islander of
a somewhat mythical appearance, the head is
attached to the shoulders and the face is carved
in a lively manner. The islander is holding a
doll-like Portuguese man, a tenth of his size,
with both hands on his shoulder. The man in
typical Portuguese garment and headpiece is
holding on to the giant’s hair. Good himotoshi
on the islander’s behind, beside the signature
./"5&53! WITHIN A WAVY RESERVE
HEIGHT 8 CM

Condition: Good condition, a few expected
age cracks, and two toes on the right foot are
restored
Provenance: Austrian private collection formerly
acquired at Christie’s in 2002
Estimate EUR 2.000,-
159 Starting price EUR 1.000,-
AN AMUSING EBONY, CORAL AND IVORY NETSUKE OF A KUROMBO DIVER
Unsigned, ebony wood netsuke with coral and ivory inlay
Japan, Edo/Tokyo, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
A fine netsuke of a South Sea islander, also known as kurombojin. Jin means man
and kurombo probably derived from the Ceylonese capital Colombo. The islander
is carved from ebony wood, reflecting his deep black skin, with a non-Asian face
and bald head with long curly hair on the back and sides. He is almost naked and
only wearing a loincloth which is inlaid in ivory. The man is a diver and has salvaged
a massive piece of coral which he is holding between his hands and feet and is
fondling it with a very amusing and pleased expression. Foreigners were a popular
theme in netsuke art as they aroused curiosity in the Japanese mind, since Japan
WAS VIRTUALLY CLOSED OFF WITH RARE EXCEPTIONS FROM THE WORLD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
the Edo period. Therefore, not much was known about these enigmatic islanders,
and their features were often exaggerated, as in this netsuke, to poke fun at
them. The irregular himotoshi are found at the back, one of them ringed in ivory.
The highly contrasting colors of the ebony, ivory and the bright orange coral are
pleasing to the eye.

HEIGHT 4.3 CM
Condition: The feet and legs have been separately carved to fit the coral, however
they have come off over time and are reattached with glue residue visible; the
head is carved separately and attached with a peg to the body - the entire figure is
original and requires minimal restoration to better hide the faults
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM 3OTHEBY S BY .EIL +
$AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO

Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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