Page 249 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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A FINE AND LARGE WOOD OKIMONO NETSUKE
OF A BLIND STONE LIFTER BY RYUKEI
"Y 2YUKEI WOOD OKIMONO NETSUKE
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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A classic model by the artist, however this carving is
PARTICULARLY RElNED AND DETAILED $EPICTED IS A STONE
lifter, who was a street performer. He is trying to lift a
gigantic stone with all his might, biting with his inlaid
ivory teeth into his lips. The severe amount of strain is
visible in his facial features, he is deeply concentrated
and has many accentuated skin folds. The blindman
has one normal eye ringed in ivory and the other also
inlaid in ivory, however ‘dead’. The wood is of a very
good colour with a smooth polish and the signature
RYUKEI is found on the underside in an inlaid ivory
333 tablet. Often this motif is mistaken for a man with
A RARE WOVEN BAMBOO YATATE LENGTH 20 CM a giant scrotum, however one of his testicles is even
Unsigned, bamboo yatate visible on the underside. Himotoshi on the underside,
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Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Condition: Very good condition however probably purely ornamental.
Provenance: European private collection
The yatate PORTABLE WRITING SET MADE OF INTRICATELY WOVEN BAMBOO HEIGHT 6 CM
The composition consists of a long shaft for the brush and a Estimate EUR 500,-
carrying box for ink cotton. A rustic and rare collector’s piece. With Starting price EUR 250,- Condition: Excellent condition
a little paintbrush inside. Provenance: French private collection, old museum
number
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
334 Starting price EUR 600,-
A WOOD OKIMONO OF A CARPENTER AT
WORK BY GUMIN
"Y 'UMIN WOOD OKIMONO
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Japan, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD
A small sculpture of a man kneeling on the ground,
with a small Japanese-style drawer cabinet in front
of him. One of his hands is placed on the cabinet
while in the other he is holding a hammer, which
he is using to work on the cabinet. He has a plane
as well as a mallet and chisel lying next to him.
An ashtray netsuke with tobacco pouch, showing
the characters Hi no Yojin hBEWARE OF lREv IS
attached to his belt. The head is very finely carved
in a lifelike manner. Signed GUMIN on mother-of-
pearl on one side of the cabinet.
HEIGHT 6.2 CM

Condition: The bridge between the lap and cabinet
has been lost with visible marks, otherwise very
good condition
Provenance: French private collection

Estimate EUR 600,-
Starting price EUR 300,-

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