Page 121 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

242 | A GOOD TALL ShUZAN STYLE
SAIShIKI NETSUKE OF RYUJIN
Unsigned
Japan, Osaka, late 18 century, Edo period (1615-1868)
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A tall saishiki (painted) hinoki wood netsuke depicting the dragon
king of the sea ryujin standing and holding a jewel in one hand
while stroking his beard with the other. A long dragon is on his
back, its head placed on top of ryujin’s head. The hinoki (cypress)
wood colored in polychrome pigments and gesso is relatively
well preserved. Beautifully large himotoshi through the back,
underneath the dragon.

HEIGHT 10.3 cm
Condition: Very good condition, relatively minor wear to
polychrome pigments and gesso.
provenance: Ex-Collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.

AUCTION
COMpARISON
Compare to a similar netsuke
sold by Bonhams, Fine
Japanese Art, 6 November
2012, London, lot 160
(sold for 9.375 GBp).
241 | A SUpERB AND LARGE SAIShIKI
NETSUKE OF RYUJIN ATTRIBUTED
TO YOShIMURA ShUZAN Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,-
Attributed to yoshimura Shuzan, unsigned
Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke. Netsukeutställning
16 Oktober 1999 - 9 Januari 2000, p. 47.
Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Netsukeutställning, Sweden,
Stockholm, 16 October 1999 – 9 January 2000.

A large and imposing saishiki (painted) hinoki wood netsuke
depicting the dragon king of the sea ryujin, standing and smiling,
his long beard forming mighty curls, and holding a pearl in both
hands. A long dragon is on his back, its large head placed on top of
ryujin’s head. Natural himotoshi beneath the dragon.
The polychrome pigments and gesso, as well as the gold accents
are well preserved, as it is known that coloring applied by
yoshimura Shuzan, who was a Kano school painter, would not wear
off so easily as later copies. Shuzan’s netsuke were generally of
exceptional size and he also never signed his netsuke. These are all
are good indications that this netsuke may very well be by the great
master himself.
HEIGHT 12.7 cm

Condition: Very good condition, relatively minor wear to
polychrome pigments and gesso.
provenance: Ex-Collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.
Literature comparison:
Compare to a near identical netsuke in the F.M. Jonas collection,
pictures both in his book and Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick,
George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 800.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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