Page 26 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

44 | A SUpERB STAG ANTLER NETSUKE
OF A SUMO WRESTLER
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Carved from a solid, pale section of stag antler, beautifully
polished, with a lustrous and tactile feel to it. Depicted is a proud
sumo wrestler, dressed only in a finely decorated skirt, with a
large protruding belly and hanging breasts. His arms are carved
extremely well, overflowing with fat, and one hand forms a fist and
the other is leaning against the body. His eye-pupils are inlaid in
dark horn. The overall plasticity of the netsuke is overwhelming,
especially when turning the netsuke in the hand. Much of the
spongiform, porous surface of the material is reserved for the
bottom and top of the netsuke, showing the artist’s superior skill in
working the material. Good, angled himotoshi through the back.
HEIGHT 5.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: Old Viennese private collection, collection no. 56,
purchased from Dorotheum on 24th May 1991, catalog no. 36.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

48 49