Page 44 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

65
A SO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE
OF A MAN SMOKING A PIPE BY
SOSAI
"Y 3OSAI IVORY NETSUKE WITH LACQUER
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Japan, Tokyo, early 20 century,
-EIJI PERIOD
A particularly precise work with
great attention to detail depicting
an older man, walking and smoking
a pipe with a long stem and a
small bowl. In the other hand
he is holding a tobacco pouch,
a kiseruzutsu and a netsuke,
and carrying a pair of scissors in
his belt on the back. These tiny
objects are perfectly captured; the
tobacco pouch with wrinkles and
a clasp, the man’s netsuke carved
in the shape of a chrysanthemum
blossom. Headpiece and trousers
with black lacquer, uniquely small
himotoshi, the signature on the
small red plate probably reads
SOSAI, a master from the So school
in Tokyo.
HEIGHT 5.8 CM

Condition: The hand holding
63 64 the pipe and the pipe have been
A FINE INLAID IVORY NETSUKE DEPICTING AN ACROBAT A TOKYO-SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A FISHERMAN IN A restored, otherwise good condition
Unsigned, ivory netsuke with inlays BOAT BY KUSAN 0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE
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Japan, probably Tokyo, late 19 CENTURY -EIJI PERIOD "Y +USAN IVORY NETSUKE WITH INLAYS collection with two valuations from
*APAN 4OKYO -EIJI PERIOD 3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED
The ivory netsuke is stained and of a very appealing color, 1974 & 1984, inventory no. 147
depicting an acrobat doing a handstand, his body amusingly A fine ivory netsuke of a fisherman with curly hair, possibly an
contorted, with his legs just above his head. He is wearing islander, seated in a boat and laughing. What looks like the sail of Literature comparison: Compare to
ornate robes inlaid with horn buttons stained in different colors. the boat from the front, turns out to be a kakemono scroll which a similar piece illustrated in Netsuke
Furthermore, he has a mon on his chest and is wearing a lion he is holding up, precisely crafted and with the character of heaven Familiar & Unfamiliar by Raymond
mask cap. Very good and irregular himotoshi to the side and ‘painted’ in the front; the roller ends are inlaid in green-stained "USHELL NO
above his head. ivory. The side of the boat is inlaid with mother of pearl and horn
and engraved with elaborate patterns. The underside with small Estimate EUR 1.500,-
HEIGHT 4 CM himotoshi and the signature incised on a red-lacquer tablet KUSAN Starting price EUR 750,-
– a student of Gyokuzan from the Tokyo school.
Condition: Excellent condition
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London gentleman HEIGHT 4.1 CM

Estimate EUR 800,- Condition: The oar in front of the kakemono is chipped, otherwise
Starting price EUR 400,- good condition
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION

Literature comparison: A very similar netsuke by Gyokuzan is
illustrated in The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the
!RCHIVES OF THE "RITISH -USEUM 0ART ! &REDERICK -EINERTZHAGEN
EDITED BY 'EORGE ,AZARNICK .EW 9ORK PAGE

Estimate EUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-

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