Page 21 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

34 | YOShINAGA: A SUpERB AND RARE
IVORY NETSUKE OF A BUCKET SELLER

By yoshinaga, signed yoshinaga 吉長
Japan, Kyoto, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The ivory of a very good color, beautifully worn and with a fine,
smooth, and lustrous patina. Depicted is a bucket seller (also known
as Okeya 桶屋), walking and carrying a large bag over his shoulder,
a smoking set consisting of a kiseruzutsu and a tobacco pouch
is attached to his obi on one side, and a bag with the character
oke 桶 (meaning bucket) on the other side. His facial expression
is crafted extremely well, full of character, and the eyes are inlaid
in dark-reddish buffalo horn. Very good, generously excavated
himotoshi through one side, the larger one of oval shape. Signed
within a rectangular reserve yOSHINAGA.

HEIGHT 6.1 cm
Condition: Good condition with age-related wear and a beautiful
patina. Old smoothed-down chip to the feet. Age cracks.
provenance: Old Viennese private collection, collection no. 43,
purchased from Lempertz, auction 673, 1991, lot 771. Additional
collection no. 216.

Literature & Auction comparison:
There are only two other similar recorded netsuke by yoshinaga,
described as depicting farmers – one is illustrated in Lazarnick,
George (1982) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to read Their
Signatures, Vol. 2, p. 1241. Another was sold by Sotheby’s, formerly
in the Brockhaus collection, 13 March 1987, London, lot 11. Though
there are some similarities, the present netsuke is significantly
better.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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