Page 24 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

40 | IKKO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE
OF A MONKEY WITh YOUNG
By Ikko, signed Ikko 一光
Japan, Nagoya, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The pale wood lightly stained and finely carved to depict an adult
female monkey caressing her young, pulling on one of its feet, while
the young exclaims. The eyes of the pair are double inlaid in pale
and dark horn, and the hairwork is finely incised. Natural himotoshi
and signed in a characteristic eye-shaped reserve - IKKO.
HEIGHT 3.5 cm

Condition: Excellent
condition.
provenance: Old Viennese
private collection, collection
no. 63, acquired at the
auction house Dorotheum,
Vienna, November 1991.

Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUr 600,-

39 | TOShIMASA: AN EXCELLENT WOOD NETSUKE
OF A SLEEpING ShOJO
By Toshimasa, signed Toshimasa 利正
Japan, Nagoya, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An excellent wood netsuke depicting a shojo in a deep slumber
after drinking a hefty amount of sake. Her head is resting on her 41 | GYOKKO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE
upturned hand and her knees are bent towards her body. One of OF A MASK SELLER
her distinctive attributes is her full long hair, which was crimson and
said to contain a much sought-after dye. Her long hair is delicately By Gyokko, signed Gyokko 玉光
carved in the present netsuke, flowing down her back and all the Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
way to the underside. Her cloud-patterned brocade dress is equally
well-carved. Her facial features are serene, and one can truly see
how tired she is from all the drinking. The wood is finely stained The mask vendor depicted here seated and opening a mask box,
and has developed an appealing patina. The underside with good, presumably to show to a buyer, with a minutely carved ivory mask
asymmetrical himotoshi and the signature, inside a rectangular carved inside. The wood is finely stained and accentuated in black
reserve, in raised ukibori characters – TOSHIMASA – one of the lacquer in the expressively carved garment folds. His face is carved
rarer artists of the Nagoya school of carvers. with excellent detail. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi through the
back and underside, the signature located inside a rounded reserve
LENGTH 4.5 cm between the two – GyOKKO.
Condition: Excellent condition. HEIGHT 3.7 cm
provenance: Old Viennese private collection, collection no. 48,
acquired from Galerie Gemini in 1991. Condition: Excellent
condition.
provenance: Old Viennese
AUCTION COMpARISON private collection, collection
A similar netsuke by Tadatoshi, was no. 20, acquired in 1988.
sold by Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art,
10 November 2016, London, lot 294 Estimate EUR 1.200,-
(sold for 4.375 GBp). Starting price EUr 600,-
Another by Tadatoshi sold at Quinn’s
Auction Galleries, The Mang Collection of
Japanese Netsuke, 7 December 2012, Falls
Church, lot 204 (sold for 6.000 USD).

Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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