Page 194 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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AN EXCELLENT NETSUKE OF A HATCHING TENGU BY MUNECHIKA AFTER HARA SHUMIN A RARE AND EXCELLENT NETSUKE OF TENGU NO TOMAGO
"Y -UNECHIKA AFTER (ARA 3HUMIN WOOD NETSUKE WITH INLAY BY NAITO TOYOMASA (1773-1856)
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Japan, Edo, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD "Y 4OYOMASA WOOD NETSUKE
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Japan, Tanba, early 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
A wood netsuke of a hatching tengu known as tengu no tomago. A well-detailed and incredibly fine
carving – the tengu’s head emerges from the shell with finely incised hair and wearing a Yamabushi An excellent wood netsuke of a hatching tengu, known as tengu
cap. The tengu has a wild expression and grasps the edge of the shell with one hand, while the no tomago BY THE CELEBRATED 4ANBA ARTIST .AITO 4OYOMASA
other is visible on the underside. The feathery wing carved with extraordinary detail is visible inside – 1856). The mythical creature is emerging from the cracked egg,
the egg, while the other wing perforates the underside of the shell. One himotoshi ringed in green- poking out its head with curved beak and enigmatic eyes inlaid
stained ivory with the other as a pierced aperture in the form of a pine, next to a maple leaf and in pale translucent horn. One wing is laid out over the surface of
foliage. The wood of a very appealing color with a beautiful grain. Signed MUNECHIKA with kao. the egg and the other is close to its body, semi-hidden inside the
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Jonas mentions a 19 century wood carver who signed Munechika, who must have been a close egg, as it is climbing out of. The plumage and hair are carved with
student of Hara Shumin, since the design is almost exactly the same as the one by Shumin and also precision and the wood is darkened and accentuated in some areas,
the manner of signature and use of kao is quite similar. which is typical for the artist. Himotoshi on the underside and
signature in the front reading TOYOMASA.
LENGTH 4 CM
HEIGHT 4.7 CM
Condition: Excellent condition
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM 3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED Condition: Very good condition, one minor crack between the
1974 & 1984, inventory no. 176 himotoshi
Provenance: European private collection
!UCTION COMPARISON &OR AN ALMOST IDENTICAL EXAMPLE BY (ARA 3HUMIN SEE "ONHAMS &INE *APANESE
Art, London, 17 May 2018, lot 7. Literature comparison: Compare to a strikingly similar netsuke by
4OYOMASA IN ! #OMPREHENSIVE 3TUDY "ASED ON THE - 4 (INDSON
Estimate EUR 3.000,- #OLLECTION .EIL + $AVEY ,ONDON NO
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
Estimate EUR 6.000,-
Starting price EUR 3.000,-

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