Page 82 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke
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A FINE NETSUKE OF THREE MONKEYS WITH A PEACH, SCHOOL AN UNUSUAL WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MONKEY FIGHTING
OF OHARA MITSUHIRO (1810-1875) ANOTHER MONKEY BY MASACHIKA
Signed Mitsuhiro, ivory netsuke "Y -ASACHIKA WOOD NETSUKE
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Japan, Osaka, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD Japan, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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An unusual subject for the artist, however when considering the A very unusual and compact composition of a large blind male monkey holding
quality of the carving and the staining, this netsuke is on par with a peach, one of the eyes inlaid in ivory and the other in horn. A smaller male
SOME OF THE lNEST NETSUKE PRODUCED BY THE /SAKA SCHOOL $EPICTED monkey, aware of the other monkey’s disadvantage, is kneeling below him and
is a large male monkey, hiding a fruiting peach branch behind his trying to steal the peach he is holding. The expression of the larger monkey is
back, while one young monkey climbs over his back, with one hand brilliantly captured as he realizes the attempted robbery and grabs the other
on the very large peach. The other monkey is restrained by the father monkey by the fur at the back, the differently inlaid eyes give him a crazed
monkey, trying to break free and follow his brother. An incredibly look. The smaller monkey’s eyes are inlaid in translucent horn and he has a
lively scene, all six eyes are inlaid in dark horn, and the expressions mischievous expression. Very good treatment of the fur and the underside
are characterful, reminding of the carvings of monkeys by Mitsuhide equally well carved with natural himotoshi and signature in a polished reserve
or Masachika. Worn signature MITSUHIRO in a rectangular reserve MASACHIKA. The artist carved invariably monkeys and according to the scholar
located on the peach – the carving probably from one of the pupils F. M. Jonas, Masachika was the adopted son and successor of Kaigyokusai
OF /HARA -ITSUHIRO Masatsugu and the father of Kaigyokudo Masateru.
HEIGHT 4.1 CM HEIGHT 3.8 CM, LENGTH 4.5 CM
Condition: Good condition; very good and appealing patina with Condition: Very good condition, the wood slightly worn in some areas
some wear, minor expected age cracks and the signature worn Provenance: "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM 3OTHEBY S BY .EIL
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM + $AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO
3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED PROBABLY INVENTORY
no. 97 Auction comparison: For a netsuke of a comparable netsuke by Masachika see
Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, New York, 21 September 2006, lot 294
Estimate EUR 4.000,- Literature comparison: A very similar or the same netsuke illustrated with a line
Starting price EUR 2.000,- drawing in The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the
"RITISH -USEUM 0ART ! &REDERICK -EINERTZHAGEN EDITED BY 'EORGE ,AZARNICK
New York, 1986, page 408.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
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