Page 42 - Bonhams French Netsuke collection London November 4, 2020

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A WOOD SASHI NETSUKE OF A HIRYU (FLYING DRAGON) A WOOD NETSUKE OF A STANDING SCREEN
18th century WITH A DRAGON AND TIGER
The limbless beast looking forward, its large head with double-inlaid By Tametaka, Nagoya, 18th century
eyes, its open mouth containing a loose ball, the flame-like wings The tsuitate (free-standing screen) with a painted dragon and tiger
carved in relief on each side, its truncated tail curling back; unsigned. coming to life in high relief, the dragon flying in stormy clouds,
15.3cm (6in) long. glowering down at the tiger, the tiger with a feeble expression, its
long tail raised to its face, the reverse with bamboo, the wood well
£10,000 - 15,000 patinated; signed Tametaka with a kao.
JPY1,400,000 - 2,100,000 3.7cm (1 7/16in).
US$13,000 - 20,000
£3,000 - 4,000
木彫差し根付 飛竜 無銘 18世紀 JPY420,000 - 560,000
US$3,900 - 5,300
Provenance:
Purchased at Josette Schulmann, Paris, July 1983. 木彫根付 衝立に竜と虎 銘「為隆（花押）」 18世紀

Published: Provenance:
INS, PE, no.61. Sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 13 December 1979, lot 21.
Sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 8 December 1981.
An Austrian private collection.
Purchased at Sotheby’s, Paris, 10 June 2014, lot 370.

The depiction of the dragon as much more powerful than the petrified
tiger represents the superiority of the elements over all animals, even
the tiger which is considered the most powerful in the world.

The motif of a dragon coming to life could also allude to the Tang
dynasty painter Go Doshi (Chinese: Wu Daozi), whose works were
said to be so realistic that they would come to life.

Another example by the artist depicting a tsuitate with a shishi and
two young boys creeping around it was sold in these rooms,
15 May 2014, lot 50.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
40 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.