Page 131 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

262 | A RARE KURUMI (WALNUT)
NETSUKE OF A SKULL
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A cleverly crafted netsuke, carved from a walnut, depicting a
skull with large cavernous eye sockets, the inside of the walnut
ingeniously used to reflect the natural cavity of the skull. The teeth
as well are carved by using the natural terminus of the nut. Fine
patina. Natural himotoshi.
LENGTH 3.2 cm
264 | hIDARI ISSAN: A FINE KURUMI NETSUKE
Condition: Excellent condition. OF A ROLY pOLY DARUMA
Provenance: Private collection, Dover, USA.
By Hidari Issan, signed Issan 一山
Japan, Iwashiro, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
AUCTION COMpARISON
A similar netsuke was sold by
Lempertz, Netsuke, Inro und A fine and humorous kurumi (walnut) netsuke depicting a rolling
Sagemono, 7 June 2019, Cologne, lot daruma completely enveloped in his robe, only his well-carved face
410 (sold for 1.860 EUR)
with stubbly beard is visible, as he looks upwards. Himotoshi to the
reverse and signed ISSAN within an oval reserve.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,- HEIGHT 3 cm
Condition: Excellent condition. Natural flaws to the walnut.
Provenance: US private collection.

Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,-

263 | hIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI NETSUKE OF A QUAIL 265 | A RARE KURUMI (WALNUT)
NETSUKE WITH DRAGON FISH
By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山
Japan, Iwashiro, early to mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Inscribed Mito hama suijo, tenroku rokugatsu, yurou kiyo 水戸濱水
上、天六六月、ユロウキヨ
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Carved from a kurumi (walnut) and depicting a plump quail, the feet
and wings finely carved. The eyes are inset silver rings. The netsuke
is ideally shaped and tactile, showing an excellent, unctuous hand A particularly unusual and rare netsuke due to the material and
patina resulting from generations of handling. Typical himotoshi subject matter. The netsuke is carved from a walnut, retaining
through the underside between the signature HIDArI ISSAN. much of its original shape, and is finely incised with a striking image
of a dragon fish (makatsugyo), its fish-like tail swinging upwards
LENGTH 4 cm and terminating at the pointed edge of the walnut. The reverse
continues the image with finely carved waves. Inscribed “Mito
Condition: The natural line of the nut which separates the two hama suijo, tenroku rokugatsu, yurou kiyo” [arrival on the beach,
halves has become slightly larger, more resembling a crack now. in the sixth month of the 6th year (of the Kaei era), in the sea of
There is some damage to the right foot, as is to be expected with Mito Bay]. The inscription might refer to the arrival of the US Navy
kurumi netsuke. Commodore Perry’s Black Ship on the 3rd of the 6th month in the
Provenance: Austrian private collection. Kaei 6th year (8th of July, 1853 in the Western calendar). It looks as
if the dragon fish is a metaphor for the dramatic and threatening
arrival of the unknown Black Ship. Himotoshi through the back and
AUCTION COMpARISON underside.
Compare to a similar netsuke by
Hidari Issan, sold by Bonhams, The HEIGHT 3.8 cm
Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art,
8 November 2011, London, lot 192 Condition: Very good condition with a fine natural hand patina.
(sold for 2.250 GBp).
Minor nicks and scratches as are to be expected with walnut
netsuke, though this example is in particularly fine condition.
Estimate EUR 800,- Provenance: European private collection.
Starting price EUr 400,-
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUr 600,-

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