Page 109 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

218 | IShIKAWA RENSAI: A SUpERB STAG
ANTLER RYUSA NETSUKE WITh
SONGBIRD AND KIKU BLOSSOM
By Ishikawa rensai, signed ren 蓮
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century

The antler masterfully hollowed out and carved in openwork, the
surface stippled to simulate rockwork and some of the perforations
worked to show clouds. The front is carved in high relief with a
chirping songbird, its head turned back and the visible eye inlaid.
Next to the bird is an elaborately carved and towering kiku flower
(chrysanthemum), both budding and blooming. The reverse shows
more of the heavily stippled ground below Chinese bellflowers.
Typically large and generously excavated himotoshi on the
reverse, one of them oval and the other round. Signed in a raised
rectangular reserve in seal form – rEN.
It is known that most of Ishikawa rensai’s output relates to or is
heavily influenced by Chinese iconography. As noted by Wolfmar
Zacken in the catalog description when this lot was last sold in
1998, the source of inspiration for this particular netsuke may be
from the series of prints ‘ten bamboo hall’ or ‘mustard seed garden’,
which were the first color-printed books in the world and found
great popularity in Japan.
HEIGHT 3.2 cm, LENGTH 3.7 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: Zacke, Netsuke von großen alten Meistern und
modernen - Ausstellung 1998 (offered for 140.000 Austrian
Schillings), subsequently in a Munich private collection.
Literature comparison:
Compare to a very similar netsuke in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016)
Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp.
64-65, no. 366.

Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.500,-
219 | IShIKAWA RENSAI: A SUpERB
STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A BASKET
WITh WILTING KIKU FLOWERS
By Ishikawa rensai, signed ren 蓮
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century

Depicted is a rustic basket with a spray of wilted kiku
(chrysanthemum) flowers hanging out from the opening. The
leaves are executed in the typical manner of the artist. The present
netsuke is a fine example of where the choice of material must have
dictated the subject matter. One cannot imagine that rensai could
have worked one of his fine animals, which are usually carved from
the ‘purest’ section of the antler, into this composition. The subject
matter is rather triste, which is portrayed very well using this dark,
rough, and heavily porous material. The reverse shows the central
himotoshi (the cord attachment is inside), below a singular kiku
flower. Signed within a raised square reserve rEN.
HEIGHT 3.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: From an American private collection.
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.000,-

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