Page 72 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

HORSE / UMA

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AN EXCELLENT AND RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT HORSE BY MITSUHIDE A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT HORSE
"Y -ITSUHIDE IVORY NETSUKE Unsigned, wood netsuke
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Japan, Kyoto, late 18 – early 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
An ivory netsuke of a recumbent horse, its head turned backwards and with a friendly face, A naturalistic model of a recumbent horse. The mane of the horse is carved with
the eyes inlaid in dark horn. The carver is Mitsuhide, assumed to be a pupil of the famous careful consideration and the long face is imbued with a lot of character, enhanced
Mitsuharu of Kyoto, and quoted by Meinertzhagen as ‘one of the best animal carvers of his by the eyes inlaid in dark horn. The wood is of a very good color, accentuated,
time’. His works are scarce, but of a very high artistic quality, and invariably made from ivory slightly stained and darkened in some areas. Good and irregular himotoshi on the
and signed in a circular reserve. He is probably best known for his idiosyncratic carvings of underside. Unsigned but similar examples exist by Minkoku.
monkeys, however though rare, he carved other animals with a similar power and expression
such as this horse. The horse’s fur is masterfully carved and finished, as well as the bushy mane LENGTH 5.3 CM
and tail. The underside with perfectly carved hooves and feet, with the first two feet crossing
in front of the horse’s body. Excellent irregular and hollowed out himotoshi near the signature Condition: One leg is restored, otherwise fine condition with excellent patina
IN AN OVAL RESERVE -)435()$% Provenance: European private collection
HEIGHT 2.7 CM, LENGTH 5 CM Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Minkoku see Christie’s, The Raymond
AND &RANCES "USHELL #OLLECTION OF .ETSUKE ,ONDON /CTOBER .O
Condition: Good condition, minor crack near the larger himotoshi, and the two feet in the
front are reattached Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Provenance: The 40-Year Collection of a London Gentleman Starting price EUR 750,-

!UCTION COMPARISON &OR A NETSUKE OF A HORSE AND GROOM BY -ITSUHIDE SEE "ONHAMS 4HE
Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I, London, 8 November 2016, lot 90.
Literature comparison: Another netsuke of a horse by Mitsuhide is illustrated in The
-EINERTZHAGEN #ARD )NDEX ON .ETSUKE IN THE !RCHIVES OF THE "RITISH -USEUM 0ART ! &REDERICK
-EINERTZHAGEN EDITED BY 'EORGE ,AZARNICK .EW 9ORK PAGE
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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