Page 30 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke
P. 30

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            AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A RAKAN ON A ROCK BY ZOKOKU  AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A MONK AND REPENTANT ONI                                   AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A POWERFUL NIO ON A SANDAL BY TOMOMASA   A WOOD NETSUKE OF A SEVERED NIO HEAD
            "Y :OKOKU  IVORY NETSUKE                      Unsigned, Tomochika school, ivory netsuke                                         "Y 4OMOMASA  IVORY NETSUKE                           Unsigned, wood netsuke
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            Japan, 19  CENTURY  %DO PERIOD                Japan, mid to late 19  CENTURY  %DO PERIOD                                        Japan, Edo, mid-19  CENTURY  %DO PERIOD              Japan, 19  CENTURY  %DO PERIOD
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            A figurally well-crafted depiction of a Rakan – an enlightened   A compact ivory netsuke of a monk sawing off the horns of a     Nio are athletic temple guardians, whose sculptures are seen by the entrance   A wood netsuke in the form of a severed head of a
            "UDDHIST n SEATED ON A WIDE ROCK  4HE HEAD IS EXPRESSIVE IN AN   repentant oni  WHO IS ACCEPTING THE TEACHINGS OF "UDDHA AND IS   GATES OF "UDDHIST TEMPLES  )N THE PRESENT NETSUKE HIS TORSO IS NAKED AND VERY   Nio. The guardian king’s head is carved expressively,
            appealing manner, the almost naked torso shows ribs and a swollen   begging for forgiveness. Himotoshi through the back; unsigned but   muscular, the accentuated face is grim and defensive, and he has a heavenly   with glaring eyes, opened mouth and splendidly
            belly. The Rakan is holding a hyotan containing the elixir of life   attributed to the Tomochika school.                        garland around his shoulders. The nio IS SITTING ON A LARGE SANDAL  waraji), as it   carved hair tied into a top knot. The underside with
            in one hand. Large himotoshi through the rock. The signature is                                                                 was thought that offering a sandal to their sculptures would heal the exhausted   the fleshy structure, revealing that this is in fact a
            REMARKABLE  WITH AN ELEPHANT  zo) and the character Koku, hence   HEIGHT 4.4 CM                                                 feet from the long pilgrimages to the temples. The sandal is carved with great   ‘real’ Nio and not a sculpture, and angled himotoshi.
            ZOKOKU. This signature with the animal is known and documented.                                                                 precision and shows the signature TOMOMASA on the underside. Tomomasa   Severed heads from battle were a popular theme in
                                                          Condition: One hand of the oni has been restored - otherwise good                 was a student of Tomochika in Tokyo. There are possibilities for natural   Japanese art, however the motif of a severed Nio head
            HEIGHT 4.8 CM                                 condition with an attractive yellowish patina                                     himotoshi, though the carving is more of an okimono.   is quite rare.
                                                          0ROVENANCE  "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION
            Condition: Minor age cracks and wear, the ink from of one of the                                                                HEIGHT 3.8, LENGTH 4.9 CM                            HEIGHT 3.9 CM
            pupils is worn off - generally, in good condition     Estimate EUR 600,-
            Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman  Starting price EUR 300,-                                              Condition: Very good condition with an excellent patina   Condition: Excellent condition
                                                                                                                                            0ROVENANCE  "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION               Provenance: European private collection
            Estimate EUR 1.500,-
            Starting price EUR 750,-                                                                                                        Estimate EUR 1.000,-                                 Estimate EUR 800,-
                                                                                                                                            Starting price EUR 500,-                             Starting price EUR 400,-











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