Page 19 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

AN OLD VIENNESE PrIVATE COLLECTION ASSEMBLED IN THE 1980s/1990s

30 | AN EARLY AND AMUSING IVORY NETSUKE
OF ChOKARO’S hORSE STUCK IN A GOURD
Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

published: Zacke (1987), Netsuke, Vienna, no. 66.
31 | AN EARLY IVORY NETSUKE OF A TANUKI
The ivory netsuke depicting Chokaro Sennin’s horse emerging from
a gourd, however the gourd is tied up like a bag in the middle and Unsigned
the horse is unable to surface from it completely. The resulting Japan, 17th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
expression of the horse is quite amusing as it has become aware
of its predicament. The ivory is appealingly glossy, typical for early
pieces, and shows a fine yellowish patina with spots of honey. A pleasingly worn and tactile, and above all early netsuke - the color,
‘Natural’ himotoshi through the gourd. patina, age cracks and gloss very much resembling related carvings
of the Chinese Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Depicted is a tanuki
LENGTH 4.6 cm wearing a large and veiny lotus leaf hat and holding his two hands
close to his exposed scrotum. The backside which would touch the
Condition: Expected age cracks, kimono when suspended from the obi is heavily worn and feels
stunning patina. The two feet in smooth to the touch, and interestingly has also significantly less age
the front probably with an old cracks. Himotoshi through the mythical creature’s tail.
smoothed down chip to the very
end. HEIGHT 6 cm
provenance: Ex collection Marcel
Lorber (1900-1986), collection Condition: The ivory beautifully worn with several natural age
no. 29, sold by Zacke in 1987 and cracks. The feet with an old, smoothed, and worn-down chip.
since then in a Viennese private provenance: Old Viennese private collection, collection no. 88,
collection. acquired from Galerie Gemini (Hohenadl) on 24th April 1994.
Estimate EUR 1.200,- Portrait of Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 600,- Marcel lorber Starting price EUr 750,-

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