Page 181 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

MYTHS, LEGENDS AND HISTORICAL FIGURES

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A VERY RARE IVORY NETSUKE DEPICTING KANI YAMABUSHI AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A YAMABUSHI A LARGE AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF THE HERO BENKEI ON A HORAGAI
BY HIDEMASA WARRIOR PRIEST WITH SUBORDINATE Unsigned, wood netsuke
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"Y (IDEMASA IVORY NETSUKE Unsigned, ivory netsuke Japan, late 18 to early 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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Japan, Osaka, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
Published: "ARRY $AVIES 3ELECTED 0IECES FROM 4HE .ETSUKE #OLLECTION OF 3COTT
This fine ivory netsuke by the Osaka master Hidemasa depicts a The Yamabushi were an ancient monk sect, Meredith, no. 108.
scene from the Kyogen play called ‘Kani Yamabushi’ #RAB 7ARRIOR organized militarily from the 10 century.
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Priest). In the play a Yamabushi is openly bragging about the new Characteristic attributes include their small This piece is large for a netsuke, most of its size is due to the trumpet conch
powers he has gained through meditation and ascetism, while octagonal hats, called tokin, as well as carrying a horagai), with the hero Benkei as a small figure on top. The structure of the conch
walking with his servant. On the road they meet a crab spirit and sword. The standing figure in this netsuke shows is executed very well and the tiny eyes and the characteristic tokin cap of Benkei
the Yamabushi orders his servant to break the animal’s shell. In both of these, is dressed in ornately decorated are inlaid in dark horn. The hero’s robe is inlaid with two ivory buttons in the back.
return the crab attacks the servant and the Yamabushi priest tries robes and is holding a walking cane as well as Benkei was a Yamabushi, a warrior monk, whose symbol was the horagai. He was
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to save him with prayers and meditation, however, ends up getting prayer beads. One of his legs is on the shoulder of one of the most famous heroes during the 12 century, he would lurk on the Gojo
himself caught in its pincers. In this amusing netsuke a very large a man kneeling before him, probably demanding bridge in Kyoto at night and would take the swords off of samurai returning home.
crab is pinching the Yamabushi in his right earlobe, while he is his subservience, especially considering the At the same spot he also met the historical hero Yoshitsune, who defeated him and
holding a jingasa WAR HAT IN FRONT OF HIM )NTERESTINGLY A horagai yamabushi’s harsh expression. Good himotoshi in whose loyal follower he then became. Good and large himotoshi through the inside
CONCH INSTRUMENT FREQUENTLY USED BY Yamabushi, however also the back of the kneeling figure. and outside of the conch.
relating to the crab, is depicted in front him. Natural himotoshi
and signature on the underside of the large rock next to the crab HEIGHT 5.1 CM LENGTH 8.7 CM
()$%-!3! "EAUTIFUL STAINING OF THE MATERIAL TYPICAL FOR (IDEMASA
Condition: Very good condition Condition: Very good condition with an appealing patina
HEIGHT 3.5, LENGTH 4.5 CM 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION Provenance: European private collection
Condition: Excellent condition Estimate EUR 600,- Estimate EUR 2.500,-
Provenance: French private collection Starting price EUR 300,- Starting price EUR 1.250,-
Estimate EUR 2.500,-
Starting price EUR 1.250,-

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