Page 77 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

SHEEP / HITSUJI

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A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF GROUP OF GOATS AFTER AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT GOAT ATTRIBUTED TO
KAIGYOKUSAI MASATSUGU (1813-1892) RANMEI
Unsigned after Kaigyokusai, ivory netsuke Unsigned, attributed to Ranmei, ivory netsuke
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Japan, Osaka or Tokyo, mid to late 19 century Japan, Kyoto, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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A large recumbent goat with two young goats. The heads are finely The goat’s head is carved in a lively manner, its head raised upwards
carved, the mother goat is proud and lively in a subtle manner, all and the horns curved backwards, the eyes double inlaid in dark and
eyes inlaid with black horn. The composition is full of movement pale translucent horn. The fur is densely carved and true to nature.
with both young goats in different attitudes – one on her back and The goat is called yagi, literally “mountain goat”, but known in the
the other just in front of the mother, nestled up to her and the head zodiac as hitsuji and is the eighth animal of the zodiac. This carving
tilted upwards, the curvature of the body being fully expressed. The is from a member of the famous Rantei school in Kyoto and most
choice piece of ivory is left unstained and is beautifully polished, likely by Ranmei. Himotoshi on the underside.
CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE ARTIST 4HE SHEEP OR GOAT hitsuji) is one of
the twelve signs of the Japanese zodiac. The underside with bed HEIGHT 2.7 CM, LENGTH 3.3 CM
of leaves, one extending up over the right hindleg of the mother
goat. Small himotoshi and signature in a semi-polished reserve on Condition: A tiny chip on one of the hooves, and a minor
the underside, reading KAIGYOKUSAI for Kaigyokusai Masatsugu imperfection to one eye, generally in very good condition
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ARGUABLY THE GREATEST NETSUKE CARVER OF THE Provenance: Austrian private estate, formerly acquired at Galerie
century, though this work was most likely made by a very talented Zacke in the 1990s
PUPIL POSSIBLY EVEN IN 4OKYO WHERE HE OR ONE OF HIS STUDENTS
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established a school in the late 19 century. Auction comparison: For a very similar example of a Goat with its
YOUNG SIGNED 2ANMEI SEE "ONHAMS *APANESE 0ICTURES AND 0RINTS
LENGTH 4.5 CM and Other Asian Works of Art, London, 19 September 2006, lot 443.
Condition: Very good condition with very minor discoloration in Estimate EUR 1.200,-
some areas to the ivory Starting price EUR 600,-
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION

Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,-

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