Page 192 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A TANUKI PRIEST AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A TANUKI WITH HUGE SCROTUM BY
Unsigned, ivory netsuke GYOKURENSAI SANSUI
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD "Y 3ANSUI IVORY NETSUKE WITH INLAYS
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Japan, Osaka, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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A quite peculiar netsuke depicting a tanuki transformed into a
priest. This netsuke shows the duality of the mythical badger’s An amusing ivory netsuke of a tanuki with a vastly distended
existence as a priest, since one side shows the human form, the scrotum – it is so large that the tanuki can lean its head on it. One
visible eye closed, with priestly robes, leaning on a stick and side is inlaid with mother of pearl and colored wood. Tanuki were
wearing a waraji which is shown on the underside. The only hint on known to suffocate hunters with their giant testicles. The tanuki
this side is the large incisor visible in the mouth. The other side, very has an amusingly fierce expression and its tail curls around to the
amusingly, shows the tanuki in all its splendor – wide open eye, other side of the scrotum, where the large and irregular himotoshi
as if its true form has awakened, dense fur, the ear visible in the are found, as well as the characteristic signature written in sosho
priest’s cap, and the clothes of the priest have changed into three SANSUI. Gyokurensai Sansui was a student of Rakuzan in the
large and veiny lotus leaves. One paw is visible on the side and the school of Garaku of Osaka.
underside with the bushy tail and another paw. Good himotoshi
through the back. HEIGHT 4.3 CM 243
A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A TANUKI PRIEST BY HOGYOKU HEIGHT 4 CM
HEIGHT 5.5 CM Condition: Age cracks and minor wear to ivory, good condition "Y (OGYOKU IVORY NETSUKE
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION Japan, Edo, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Condition: Very good condition,
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Condition: Excellent condition, fine patina small nerve channel visible in the back
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM Literature comparison: Compare to a similar netsuke by the artist A fine and precisely carved work with dark brown contrasting 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO illustrated in in Netsuke & Inro Artists and how to read their staining of the ivory. The old crouched man has a monkey-like face,
signatures by George Lazarnick, 1981, page 915. but that is not all. He is wearing a full-length garment, his hair in Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Estimate EUR 800,- a bun, and is operating a barrel with one finely carved “hand”. A Starting price EUR 600,-
Starting price EUR 400,- Estimate EUR 600,- peak on the underside however reveals paws and a thick tail, which
Starting price EUR 300,- is not a monkey tail but that of a tanuki, which has the ability to
shapeshift and could transform into a priest. Small himotoshi on the
side and the signature on the underside of the barrel HOGYOKU.
The artist was a student of the great Hojitsu from Edo/Tokyo.

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