Page 112 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono
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224 | A RARE LACQUERED WOOD 225 | AN UNUSUAL LACQUERED WOOD REVERSIBLE
MASK NETSUKE OF AN ONI MASK NETSUKE OF A MONSTROUS hEAD
Inscribed with the name of the mask ‘haha oni’ 母鬼 Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
published: Bushell, raymond (1985) Netsuke Masks, p. 20, no. 32. Exhibited: Bonhams, Paris, during the International Netsuke
Collector’s Society Convention October 2019.
The mask netsuke expressively carved and lacquered in creamy
white, black, and red lacquer to depict a powerfully grimacing The wood mask netsuke lacquered in brown, black and red. The front
oni. The oni has large, bushy black-lacquered eyebrows which showing a screaming face with gilt-brass eyes, a black-lacquered
loom over his eyes. The devilish mask has a curling beard, a boyish head of hair, and the opened mouth lacquered in red with a
large pronounced nose and its mouth is opened, baring huge visible tongue and inlaid white teeth. The reverse shows a disfigured
black-lacquered fangs. The lacquer is intentionally worn-down face, the eyes formed by inlaid tablets. The opened eye is in the shape
to give the impression of an old mask. Himotoshi through the of the moon and the closed eye in the form of the character Tsuki 月
central bridge in the reverse. The mask is not signed but rather (moon). The nose forms the cord attachment and the opened mouth
inscribed with the name of the mask – ‘haha oni’ – which means is colored in red with inlaid white teeth. The subject is an allusion to
mother oni. the sun goddess Amaterasu and the moon god Tsukuyomi.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm HEIGHT 4.7 cm
Condition: Very good condition with intentional and age-related Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected surface wear to
wear to lacquer. lacquer.
provenance: Ex collection raymond Bushell, then European provenance: European private collection P. Jacquesson, purchased
collection P. Jacquesson. from Sagemonoya, Tokyo, in 2012.
Estimate EUR 5.000,- Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.500,- Starting price EUr 1.500,-
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