Page 45 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke
P. 45

65
                     A SO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE
                     OF A MAN SMOKING A PIPE BY
                     SOSAI
                     "Y 3OSAI  IVORY NETSUKE WITH LACQUER
                                   th
                     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
 th
 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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