Page 128 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

163
A MAGNIFICENT AND RARE
STAG ANTLER CARVING OF
AN OCTOPUS WITH JAR
Unsigned, stag antler
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
In the form of a cane handle however usable as
an okimono. The elongated handle carved from a
choice piece of stag antler depicting an octopus
on top of a gnarly coral branch with many clams
stuck to it. The octopus is holding a large barnacle-
covered jar between two of his tentacles and has
a fierce expression with large bulging eyes and a
funnel-shaped mouth. Octopus are often depicted
bursting out of jars in netsuke art, however in
this piece the tables have turned. The antler is
of a very good color, with the beautiful porous
structure especially evident on the smooth head of
the mollusk. Also note the other tentacles of the
octopus which gently flow down the coral branch,
the suckers expressively and naturalistically carved.
HEIGHT 12 CM

Condition: Excellent condition
0ROVENANCE ! "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION STORED IN A
bank vault for 40 years, collection no. 59
two views
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-
161 162
A STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A FISHERGIRL A RARE TALL HIPPO TOOTH NETSUKE OF ASHINAGA AND
Unsigned, stag antler netsuke TENAGA
th
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Unsigned, hippopotamus tooth netsuke
th
Japan, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD
! STANDING lSHERGIRL ama) nude except for a skirt. Her head is
prominent due to its size, especially the forehead, her face showing Ashinaga LONG LEGS AND Tenaga LONG ARMS ARE DEPICTED HERE AS
a fine, pensive expression. With one hand she is touching her fishermen, with the latter holding a well-carved seabream in his left
hair and in the other she holds a sickle, which she uses to cut off hand. Their faces are carved sensitively, the pair is visibly pleased
THE SEAWEED egonori) but also to search for clams and pearls. with their catch. They are both wearing mugwort loincloths and
&ISHERGIRLS ama) would dive into the water while tied to a rope used Ashinaga IS HOLDING A DOUBLE GOURD hyotan) with the elixir of life
to pull them back up. Large himotoshi on the reverse. The antler, in his hand – both typical attributes of Sennin, though the pair
almost appearing like ivory with very little ‘imperfections’ used is are not traditionally viewed as such, but rather as Yokai from the
completely hollow and the legs and the top of her hair are inserted. southern islands. The present netsuke depicts them as immortals.
The artist has managed to carve a fine netsuke from a piece of Another particularity of the netsuke is the material that has been
scrap material. used, which is an unusually large section of a hippo tooth – a very
rare material which had to be imported. The color of the material is
HEIGHT 7.2 CM beautiful, glossy and very pleasing to the eye, while the surface is
highly polished. Natural himotoshi are possible, however the carving
Condition: Excellent condition is more of a netsuke-okimono.
0ROVENANCE ! "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION STORED IN A BANK VAULT FOR
years, collection no. 79 HEIGHT 9.5 CM

Estimate EUR 900,- Condition: Very good condition, the edge of one foot has been
Starting price EUR 450,- repaired, however is not visible at all, as it has been restored to
perfection
Provenance: European private collection
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

126 127