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

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36 37 AN IVORY NETSUKE OF DAIKOKU ON A RICE BALE BY RANTEI A SMALL IVORY NETSUKE OF DAIKOKU WITH DAIKON AND
AN IVORY NETSUKE OF EBISU WITH SEA BREAM BY ONO RYOMIN A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF JUROJIN AND BENTEN BY "Y 2ANTEI IVORY NETSUKE RAT BY THE TOMOCHIKA SCHOOL
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"Y 2YOMIN IVORY NETSUKE JORYU Japan, Kyoto, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD "Y 4OMOCHIKA IVORY NETSUKE
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Japan, Tokyo, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD "Y *ORYU IVORY NETSUKE Japan, Edo, mid-19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Daikoku is one of the Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Lucky Gods of
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The lucky god Ebisu, one of the Shichifukujin 3EVEN ,UCKY 'ODS IS *APAN AND SYMBOLIZES WEALTH HIS ATTRIBUTES ALL SEEN IN THIS WORK Daikokuken, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan and associated
depicted here holding down a large tai SEA BREAM WITH BOTH HIS HANDS A rare ivory netsuke of the lucky deity Jurojin sheltering being bales of rice, on which he stands, a magic mallet that is said with wealth and prosperity, is dragging a daikon RADISH BOTH
with a very content expression. He has a full beard, well-expressed large Benten under a canopy, who is seated on Jurojin’s stag and to produce anything desired when struck, and a sack of treasure. Daikoku and daikon have the same dai, as in “large”) with a rat
earlobes and is wearing a cap with a bowtie on top of it. The tai seems to playing her Biwa. Benten is the only goddess in the group of Himotoshi through the rice bale, which shows a flaming magic pearl nezumi) on top, which is also a symbol of this deity. A very lively,
be enjoying himself too, best visible on the underside, as his expression the Shichifukujin and is a symbol for love, poetry and music tama) on the front and reverse, one of which shows the signature dense composition. Natural himotoshi between the legs and radish
is quite humorous with a wide smile. The scales and fins are carved very and is probably derived from the Hindu goddess Sarasvati. RANTEI, who was a well-known netsuke master in Kyoto. Very well- leaves, signed TOMOCHIKA within a wavy reserve on the smooth
precisely, as are the garments of Ebisu, which are flowing and incised with Benten is quite rarely depicted in netsuke art, and often with carved details in this characterful work. reverse of the daikon.
leaves and vines. Note also the very sensitively carved fingers and toes. The Bishamonten, who is even rarer to find. The figural group is
ivory is covered in a very attractive stain, the small himotoshi are found carved on a base with an archaistic diaper band incised on the HEIGHT 5.2 CM (%)'(4 #- 7)$4( #-
on the reverse and the signature RYOMIN, for Ono Ryomin, is located side and a small central himotoshi on the underside, with the
on his left buttock. Ebisu is patron of the fishermen and is also called the signature JORYU located in a rounded reserve. Condition: Very good condition Condition: Very good condition, age crack through the daikon
‘laughing god’. 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
HEIGHT 3.7 CM
HEIGHT 3.7 CM Estimate EUR 1.200,- Literature comparison: A very similar netsuke is depicted in The
Condition: Good condition, the ivory slightly worn with a Starting price EUR 600,- Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the
Condition: Only one very minor chip to the edge of the bowtie on the cap, good patina and some red paint residue on the underside "RITISH -USEUM 0ART " &REDERICK -EINERTZHAGEN EDITED BY 'EORGE
otherwise very good condition 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION Lazarnick), New York, 1986, page 895.
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman
Estimate EUR 600,- Estimate EUR 600,-
Estimate EUR 1.000,- Starting price EUR 300,- Starting price EUR 300,-
Starting price EUR 500,-

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