Page 123 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

246 | TANAKA MONDO: A RARE ShUZAN STYLE
SAIShIKI NETSUKE OF RYUJIN’S ATTENDANT
By Tanaka Mondo I, unsigned
Japan, Osaka, late 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A saishiki (painted) hinoki wood netsuke depicting a dragon-headed
attendant of ryujin. He has a curly beard and flaming hair, wears a long
flowing scarf and holds a pearl in both hands. One foot is standing on
another red pearl. The mythical being has scales and a dragon’s tail.
The hinoki (cypress) wood is colored with polychrome pigments and
gesso, as well as gold accents, all generally very well preserved. Natural
himotoshi through the tail in the back.

The catalog note of Sotheby’s states that this lot originally came with an
incribed tomobako (which is now lost). The attestation on the tomobako
(storage box) read: “Authenticated by Sumitoshi Mondo as the work of
Mondo I, who colored this with Shuzan’s coloring method”, dated 1927.
HEIGHT 9.5 cm

Condition: Good condition, very minor wear to polychrome pigments.
Tiny chip to the top of the flaming hair.
provenance: Ex Ueda reikichi collection, illustrated with a color
sketch in Netsuke no Kenkyukai, no. 4. Ex collection Betty Jahss, sold at
Sotheby’s, The Betty Jahss Collection of Netsuke – Part I, 13 June 1991,
London, lot 5. Then ex collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUr 600,-

247 | A RARE AND UNUSUAL hINOKI
WOOD SAShI NETSUKE OF ChOKARO
SENNIN ATTRIBUTED TO YORITAKE

Attributed to yoritake, unsigned
Japan, 18 century, Edo period (1615-1868)
th
published: Östasiatiska Museet (1999) Netsuke. Netsukeutställning
245 | A RARE AND MASSIVE Condition: Good condition, the polychrome pigments almost 16 Oktober 1999 - 9 Januari 2000, p. 28.
KRIS hANDLE RE-pURpOSED entirely worn off. Exhibited: Östasiatiska Museet, Netsukeutställning, Sweden,
AS A NETSUKE OF A MALAYAN provenance: Ex-Collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman. Stockholm, 16 October 1999 – 9 January 2000.
STYLE WINGED DEVIL
Literature comparison:
Compare to two similar netsuke in Joly, Henri L. (1966) W. L. Of simplistic yet bold design, depicting Chokaro Sennin standing
Unsigned
Japan, 17th/18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, nos. 3422-3423 – one a re- on his toes, stretching out his body and holding his hyotan (gourd),
purposed Kris handle similar to the present netsuke and the other which he uses to conjure a horse, over his head. Unusually, his
a copy accredited to yoshimura Shuzan. mouth is opened as if he were to drink from the gourd. Very
good flowing detail to his robe and mugwort leaf skirt. The face is
An Indonesian kris handle which was re-purposed as a netsuke,
and which belongs to a rare group of carvings which entered Japan AUCTION COMpARISON expressively carved. Some very light traces of gesso pigment.
and served as inspiration for yoshimura Shuzan’s later designs A related netsuke was offered
which are mentioned in the Soken Kisho. Depicted is a Malayan at Bonhams, The Julius and HEIGHT 14.7 cm
demon with large protruding eyes, thick curved horns and sharp Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine
fangs. To its sides are boldly carved wings. Large himotoshi through Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, Condition: Good condition, appropriately worn. Tiny chip to one
the underside and backside. remnants of polychrome pigments London, lot 18. toe. The gesso pigments almost completely worn away.
probably added later. provenance: Ex-Collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman.
Estimate EUR 1.500,- Estimate EUR 1.200,-
HEIGHT 11.5 cm
Starting price EUr 750,- Starting price EUr 600,-

242 243