Page 149 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

183
A MASTERFULLY CARVED WALRUS IVORY
RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING AN OLD
DRAGON ATTRIBUTED TO HASEGAWA IKKO
Unsigned, attributed to Hasegawa Ikko, walrus
ivory ryusa manju netsuke with mother of pearl
and dark horn inlay
Japan, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
The beautifully openworked ryusa manju depicts
a contorted wise and old dragon. The scales
are carved precisely, and the difficult material
is utilized to perfection, the porous structure
of walrus ivory mirroring the depiction of the
evanescent aged dragon. The dragon’s expression
is anything but ferocious, but rather whimsical,
with dense and furrowed brows – a stark contrast
to the young and ferocious dragons usually
depicted in netsuke art. The claws in the front
and the eyes are inlaid in mother of pearl, and
the long barbels are inlaid in dark horn. Singular
himotoshi on the reverse. The quality and style of
the carving, the expression and the style of inlay
are all coherent with carvings of Hasegawa Ikko,
th
one of the most influential netsukeshi of the 19
century.
$)!-%4%2 #-

Condition: Excellent condition
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
Literature comparison: Compare to a manju
with dragon and Tiger signed Ikko in The
Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the
!RCHIVES OF THE "RITISH -USEUM 0ART ! &REDERICK
-EINERTZHAGEN EDITED BY 'EORGE ,AZARNICK
New York, 1986, page 223.
Auction comparison: Compare to a similar
unsigned manju sold at Sotheby’s, Netsuke From
THE #OLLECTION OF 2AYMOND AND &RANCES "USHELL
London, 18 November 1999, lot 225.
Estimate EUR 3.500,-
Starting price EUR 1.750,-

146 147