Page 84 - Fine Japanese Netsuke, Sagemono, Oikimono April 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

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AN EXCELLENT WOOD NETSUKE OF A MONKEY EATING BERRIES
BY KANO TOMOKAZU
"Y 4OMOKAZU WOOD NETSUKE
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Japan, Gifu, 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
The monkey is the ninth sign of the Japanese zodiac and used to be
considered to dispel ill will, ease births and be a messenger to the gods.
This masterfully carved netsuke with fine fur pattern shows him putting
berries in his mouth with great relish. He is holding the berry bush
between his chest and his arms and the beautiful and crisply carved
leaves and berries emerge between his legs and under his arms. The
monkey is male, with expressed genitals that look eerily similar to the
berries, and has eyes inlaid with pale translucent horn, the red-brown
wood is stained black. Natural himotoshi between the legs, signed
TOMOKAZU within an outlined reserve on one of the thighs. Kano
Tomokazu from Gifu is regarded as one of the greatest animal netsuke
carvers of all time and was said to have studied the animals very closely
and sometimes took one or two months to finish a carving.
HEIGHT 2.9, LENGTH 4 CM
Condition: One ear has a small restoration only visible under UV light -
otherwise very good condition
Provenance: German private collection
Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Kano Tomokazu of a
MONKEY EATING BERRIES SEE "ONHAMS &INE *APANESE !RT ,ONDON
November 2016, lot 296.
Literature comparison: A very similar work, titled “monkey eating
berries” is pictured in Netsuke & Inro Artists and how to read their
signatures’ by George Lazarnick, 1981, page 1154.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
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AN EXCELLENT IVORY NETSUKE OF A MONKEY EATING A PEACH
BY RANTEI
"Y 2ANTEI IVORY NETSUKE
Japan, Kyoto, early 19 CENTURY %DO PERIOD
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The monkey is holding a peach, the branch visible on the underside,
between his left arm and right leg and is taking a healthy bite, while
scratching himself with his other hand. The netsuke perfectly embodies
the visible satisfaction of the monkey. Hogen Rantei became famous
for his incredibly detailed and naturalistic representations of animals.
He was a master of hairwork, Lazarnick even compares his hairwork
to that of Kaigyokusai, a comparison which is especially evident in this
PIECE "UT WHAT REALLY DISTINGUISHED HIM WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN SOME
of his best netsuke, are little details which make the depiction come to
life – like the monkey biting into the fruit producing tiny wrinkles on one
side of the mouth, as he bites slightly lopsided into it. The eyes are inlaid
in deep black horn, producing a wild expression, and the very typical
signature can be found in a rounded reserve in sosho script RANTEI.
Natural himotoshi through the legs.
HEIGHT 2.8 CM
Condition: Very good condition, expected age cracks
0ROVENANCE "RITISH PRIVATE COLLECTION WITH TWO VALUATIONS FROM
3OTHEBY S BY .EIL + $AVEY DATED INVENTORY NO
Auction comparison: A similar model of a monkey and mushroom by
2ANTEI SOLD AT "ONHAMS &INE *APANESE 7ORKS OF !RT 3EPTEMBER
2011, lot 2043.
Literature comparison: A similar netsuke of a monkey by rantei eating
a persimmon is reproduced in Zacke, Japanische Netsuke – Austellung
1990, Vienna, no. 62
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-
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