Page 27 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

KyOTO SCHOOL

46 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF hOTEI ON hIS
TREASURE BAG BEING pULLED BY A KARAKO
Unsigned
Japan, Kyoto, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A charming ivory study depicting the lucky god Hotei seated on his
treasure bag, holding an uchiwa fan and laughing, while a karako
pulls him along. The robes are incised with scrolling vines and
the ivory is of a very good color, finely stained. The manner of the
carving, expressions and decoration of the garments suggests
Kyoto school and probably by a follower of yoshitomo. Good,
functional himotoshi through the underside.
LENGTH 5.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition. Expected age cracks. Fine patina.
Provenance: French private collection.

Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,-

47 | OKAKOTO: A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF KINKO
45 | MITSUhARU: AN IVORY NETSUKE SENNIN ON A CARp
OF A TARTAR ARChER
By yamaguchi Okakoto, signed Okakoto 岡言
By Mitsuharu, unsigned Japan, Kyoto, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A fine and dynamically crafted ivory netsuke depicting Kinko Sennin
The standing archer wearing a typical broad hat, with an inlaid horn seated on the back of a huge carp with its body arched and tail
finial, and dressed in an elaborately decorated robe. In one hand swinging upwards. Kinko attentively reads from an opened scroll.
he holds a pair of arrows by their heads and the other hand holds The scales of the carp are finely incised, and its eye pupils are
a bow, partially hidden within his sleeve in the back. The ‘natural’ inlays of dark horn. Fine patina. Good, asymmetrical himotoshi
himotoshi is located between the archer’s back and his dragon- underneath and signed within a rectangular reserve OKAKOTO.
headed quiver. Unsigned, however bearing all the idiosyncratic
features of a Mitsuharu netsuke. Beautiful patina, particularly to the HEIGHT 3.8 cm, LENGTH 4.2 cm
back.
The subject appears to be unique for the artist and for the Oka-
HEIGHT 8.7 cm school. The subject of Kinko Sennin has been executed by several
members of the yoshi- school.
Condition: Good overall condition with age-related surface wear
and age cracks. Condition: Very good
Provenance: British collection. condition. The ivory slightly
worn with fine age cracks.
AUCTION provenance: Old French
COMpARISON private collection acquired
A similar netsuke was sold by at Sotheby’s London, 16
Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 9 March 1983, lot 10.
November 2017, London, lot 20
(sold for 4.750 GBp). Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,-
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.500,-

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