Page 189 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF SATO TADANOBU DEFINDING HIMSELF WITH A
GOBAN BY MASATSUGU
"Y -ASATSUGU IVORY NETSUKE
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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A fine ivory netsuke, full of movement and the ivory bearing a very appealing color,
depicting the samurai warrior Sato Tadanobu, who lived during the late Heian
period. According to legend he saved the life of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and was
ATTACKED WHILE PLAYING A GAME OF GO ADAPTED FROM THE #HINESE GAME Weiqi) and the
only weapon he had to defend himself was the go board. He fought off numerous
attackers and ultimately committed seppuku, a form of ritual suicide, before his
attackers could reach him. In the present netsuke he is depicted holding the go
board over his shoulder and clenching his free hand into a fist. His flowing robes are
ornately decorated with various decorative patterns and quite unusually he has the
three-clawed feet of an oni. Large and irregular himotoshi through the back and the
signature hidden between his legs and robes MASATSUGU.

HEIGHT 5 CM
Condition: The edge of one foot has been reattached, otherwise very good condition
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

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AN UNUSUAL AND RARE BRONZE AND IVORY MANJU A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF KINTARO ON A BEAR
STYLE NETSUKE DEPICTING THE BUNBUKU CHAGAMA BY Unsigned, ivory netsuke
HIROMITSU Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
"Y (IROMITSU BRONZE AND IVORY NETSUKE
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Kintaro is a Japanese folk hero, the son of a high-ranking officer
th
who was lost in the mountains. He was raised by an athletic yama-
An unusual netsuke in the form of a square two-part manju style uba hMOUNTAIN WITCHv AND GREW SO STRONG THAT HE WRESTLED WITH
netsuke consisting of a bronze bowl and a rectangular ivory plate bears. This netsuke shows him riding such a bear, holding his
with a himotoshi loop in the back. The ivory plate depicts the characteristic attribute, a large hatchet, in one hand. Kintaro, often
legend from Japanese folklore of the Bunbuku Chagama. In the TRANSLATED AS h'OLDEN "OYv IS HALF NAKED AND RATHER SMALL 4HE
legend a poor man sets a tanuki free, which in return transforms bear with a charmingly ferocious expression shows an incised fur
into a kettle, so that the man can perform with it on the street and pattern, inlaid eyes and the himotoshi are in his side.
become wealthy. Finely carved in shishiabori SUNKEN RELIEF THE
man is visibly delighted holding the tanuki tea kettle. Signature HEIGHT 3.9 CM
HIROMITSU in the front.
Condition: One foot of Kintaro has been restored, the ivory is
LENGTH 4 CM slightly worn with a good patina
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman
Condition: Very good condition, the bowl with some oxidation on
the inside Estimate EUR 800,-
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM Starting price EUR 400,-
3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO
Estimate EUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-

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