Page 108 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

215 | IShIKAWA RENSAI: A FINE
Portrait of charles cartier-Bresson by Jean-Matthias Schiff
in the Museum of Fine Arts Nancy
212
216 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A BIRD ON A KASA hAT
AND RARE IVORY MANJU BY A FOLLOWER OF IShIKAWA RENSAI
NETSUKE WITh SOKEN
KIShO DESIGN OF AN ONI Unsigned
ON VAJRA Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century
By Ishikawa rensai, unsigned
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th The ivory typically stained and depicting a bird perched on top of a
century discarded kasa hat, a leafy vine emerges from a tattered opening,
the entire composition set on a base. The staining, manner of the
leaves and bird are very typical for the workshop of Ishikawa rensai.
A superbly stained two-part ivory manju Central himotoshi through the base, the other ‘natural’ through the
netsuke carved in highly polished sunken opening of the kasa.
relief within a lobed reserve depicting an
oni sitting atop a three-pronged vajra. The LENGTH 3.5 cm
design appears exactly as shown in the
Soken Kisho of 1781, the first publication Condition: Excellent condition, two small, fine age cracks to the
on netsuke and their carvers. The central base.
relief carving is set on a masterfully Provenance: French private collection.
stippled ground emulating the fur of a tiger,
appearing like billowing clouds. The equally AUCTION COMpARISON
beautifully stained backside with a florally A comparable unsigned netsuke
rimmed himotoshi. The staining, reserve and attributed to rensai is illustrated in
depiction are typical for Ishikawa rensai (see Cohen, George (1974) In Search
Literature comparison).
for Netsuke & Inro, plate 5, no. 68,
and recently sold at Zacke, Fine
DIAMETEr 4.4 cm
Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono,
24 November 2018, Vienna, no. 102
Condition: The exterior in very good (sold for 3.792 EUR).
condition with only one thin age crack and
minor wear to the staining. There is some
damage to the inside cord attachment. The Estimate EUR 1.500,-
manju closes but is slightly warped. Starting price EUr 750,-
provenance: Ancient collection Charles
Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921), collection no.
841. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile
industrialist and art collector specializing 217 | A FINE IVORY NETSUKE
particularly in works from Japan. He is the OF A CRAB AND BAMBOO IN
great uncle of famous photographer Henri ThE MANNER OF RENSAI
Cartier-Bresson. Additional collection
no. ‘149’.
Unsigned
Literature comparison: Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century
For an ivory netsuke by rensai with the same
lobed reserve see Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016)
Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving The entire composition set on a base simulating a woven bamboo
in Japan, no. 359. tray, carved on top with a crab (kani) crawling up a segment of leafy
bamboo. The ivory is finely stained, and the crustacean’s eyes are
Estimate EUR 2.000,- inlays of dark, lustrous horn. Two of the leaves extend to the other
Starting price EUr 1.000,- side where the himotoshi are located, the larger one in the shape
of a clam.
DIAMETEr 4 cm
Condition: Very good condition. Minor wear to staining.
Provenance: Belgian private collection.
AUCTION COMpARISON
The stain, manner of the leaves and
crab are very much reminiscent
of Ishikawa rensai or one of his
followers. For a related example in
stag antler see Zacke, Netsuke von
Meistern - Ausstellung 1989,
Vienna, no. 47.
A sketch taken Estimate EUR 2.000,-
from the Soken Kisho Starting price EUr 1.000,-
213