Page 65 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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AN EXCEPTIONAL IVORY NETSUKE OF A TIGER WITH CUB BY
HAKURYU
"Y (AKURYU IVORY NETSUKE
Japan, Kyoto, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
th
A compact and remarkably intricate ivory netsuke of a large female
tiger with its cub climbing down from its back. The mother’s body
is muscular with pronounced shoulder bones, and her entire body
is contorted into a circle, her tail swinging around to her front
paws. The little cub which is climbing down her back is depicted
in motion, one paw on the ground and the other sliding down her
right leg, the shoulder bones equally well-pronounced and the
minutely carved tail in a wavy line across the mother’s back. The fur
coat is remarkable and very naturalistic in this piece with stained
dark lines imitating the tiger’s fur pattern like wet running paint.
Netsuke carvers knew their tiger fur very well, however the actual
image of the tiger was often parodied or somewhat confused. As
in this netsuke where the tiger’s body comes across all powerful,
however the expression is comedic and rather docile. The eyes
are inlaid in mother of pearl with the pupils far apart, red-tinted
mouth and the mother tiger has its mouth opened with a snarling
expression. The underside with well-carved clawed paws, natural
himotoshi and the signature located in a double gourd shaped
RESERVE (!+5295 MEANING LITERALLY HUNDRED DRAGONS

Hakuryu’s tigers are completely unique in their individuality,
style and expression and matched only perhaps by the tigers by
Matsushita Otoman. The existence of many imitations and copies of
(AKURYU S TIGER S PERHAPS GIVE THIS DISTINCT TYPE A BAD REPUTATION
however this netsuke is of superior quality and without a doubt by
the great master himself, who is said to have originated from the
Rantei school.

HEIGHT 3 CM, LENGTH 4 CM
Condition: Excellent condition
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM
3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO
WITH A REMARK @"%34

Literature comparison: For a similar netsuke with three tigers see
The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the
"RITISH -USEUM 0ART ! &REDERICK -EINERTZHAGEN EDITED BY 'EORGE
Lazarnick), New York, 1986, page 120.

Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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