Page 137 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke
P. 137

171
                     A STAG ANTLER NETSUKE
                     OF A KARAKO WITH ONI
                     MASK
                     Signed illegibly, possibly by
                     Jugyoku, stag antler netsuke
                     Japan, 19  century, Edo period
                           th

                     A rather small stag antler
                     netsuke of a karako doing
                     the bekkanko gesture with an
                     inlaid and movable tongue.
                     "EHIND HIM HE IS HIDING AN
                     expressively carved oni mask
                     with inlaid eyes made from
                     metal. The head is carved
                     separately from another
                     piece of antler and the bush
                     of hair is lacquered in black
                     with finely incised lines.
                     Himotoshi through the back
                     and underside where also the
 170                 signature can be found inlaid
 AN EXCELLENT STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A SNAIL ON   in a mother of pearl tablet,
 REISHI MUSHROOM BY OZAKI KOKUSAI (1835 – 1892)  however not readable. Possibly
 "Y +OKUSAI  SIGNED +OKU  STAG ANTLER NETSUKE  by Jugyoku as he was known
 Japan, Asakusa, mid to late 19  century  to carve in stag antler and
 th
                     COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES  SEE
 The snail is crawling up a reishi mushroom, a symbol for longevity,   auction comparison) exist.
 and is stretching out its feelers scanning the surface of the
 mushroom, the tip of the antennae inlaid in dark horn. The spirals   HEIGHT 4 CM
 of the shell and the surface of the reishi are carved very well. The
 underside with the stem of the reishi, which form the himotoshi   Condition: The index finger
 and houses the signature carved in sunken relief reading KOKU,   of the boy and the tongue are   172
 FOR /ZAKI +OKUSAI       n        THE FOUNDER OF THE FAMOUS   slightly chipped - otherwise   A GOOD STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF SEIOBO
 Asakusa school in Tokyo, which was the center for stag antler   good condition  Unsigned, stag antler netsuke
 carving in Japan during that time, and produced, in their own   0ROVENANCE  "RITISH PRIVATE   Japan, 19  CENTURY  %DO PERIOD
                                                                                    th
 right, some of the greatest masterpieces of netsuke art from   collection
 difficult and rare materials.                                                 The queen mother of the west depicted standing
                     Auction comparison: Compare                              barefoot, upright and holding her typical
 HEIGHT 2 CM, LENGTH 4 CM  to a similar netsuke signed                        attributes of a peach branch in one hand, and
                     Jugyoku sold at Lempertz,                                A BASKET  FULL OF PEACHES  IN THE OTHER  (ER COAT
 Condition: Excellent condition  Asiatische Kunst, Köln, 07                   with mugwort leaves, usually reserved for Sennin,
 0ROVENANCE  "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM   $ECEMBER       LOT       and her hair tied to a top bun with four further
 3OTHEBY S  BY .EIL +  $AVEY  DATED              INVENTORY NO                 hair buns draping down her shoulder. The antler
                     Estimate EUR 600,-                                       of a very good color and irregular, diagonal
 Estimate EUR 2.000,-  Starting price EUR 300,-                               himotoshi in the back.
 Starting price EUR 1.000,-
                                                                              HEIGHT 7.2 CM
                                                                              Condition: Very good condition
                                                                              Provenance: European private collection

                                                                              Estimate EUR 1.000,-
                                                                              Starting price EUR 500,-










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