Page 31 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

53 | OKAKOTO: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE
OF A COCKEREL
By yamaguchi Okakoto, signed Okakoto 岡言
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The cockerel or rooster (tori) sits proudly, its head turned
backwards, with finely carved plumage and long elegant tail
feathers. The ivory shows a superb patina all over. The feathery bird
has inlaid eyes of dark horn. The underside shows the asymmetrical
himotoshi, the tucked in feet and the signature inside a rectangular
reserve OKAKOTO.
HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm

Condition: Good condition with minor wear to the incised breast
feathers and a very tiny, almost unnoticeable chip to the edge of
the bird’s crest.
Provenance: French private collection.
yamaguchi Okakoto, pupil and younger brother of yamaguchi
Okatomo, was a brilliant carver and excelled at carvings of animals.
His work is considerably more rare than those of other members of
the Oka- school. The present piece appears to be the only netsuke
of a cockerel recorded by Okakoto, though a few are recorded by
his elder brother Okatomo.

AUCTION COMpARISON
Compare to a cockerel by
Okatomo, sold at Bonhams,
Netsuke from a European
Collection, 8 May 2016, London,
lot 38 (sold for 3.750 GBp). 55 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT BOAR
ATTRIBUTED TO OKATOMO
Estimate EUR 1.000,-
Starting price EUr 500,- Attributed to Okatomo, unsigned
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period
(1615-1868)
54 | YAMAGUChI OKATOMO: A FINE IVORY
NETSUKE OF A pUppY WITh WARAJI A large and powerful ivory netsuke of a recumbent boar (inoshishi)
with finely incised, appropriately worn, hairwork. The boar, which
By yamaguchi Okatomo, signed Okatomo 岡友 is feared and known for its recklessness and ferocity, is shown
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period here somewhat surprised, the expression amusingly crafted as
(1615-1868) the inlaid eyes peer behind. Presumably, this netsuke depicts the
scene just before the boar starts running (see auction comparison).
The underside with himotoshi and the finely carved legs, which are
A sweet ivory netsuke, particularly appealing due to the deep drawn in for compactness.
yellow-orange patina, depicting a young chubby puppy playing
with a worn-out sandal (waraji). The pupils are inlays of dark horn. LENGTH 5.2 cm
Signed within a rectangular reserve OKATOMO. Natural himotoshi.
Condition: Very good condition with age-related wear and age
HEIGHT 2.7 cm, LENGTH 4 cm cracks.
provenance: French private collection, purchased from the
Condition: Small, professional restoration to the rope of the sandal. personal collection of Paris dealer robyn in 1999, by repute.
The ivory worn with a very good patina.
Provenance: French private collection. AUCTION COMpARISON
Compare with a very similar running
Auction comparison: boar, attributed to Okatomo, sold
Though there are several variations of puppies by Okatomo, there by Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from the
is only one other recorded netsuke of a puppy with waraji, which Adrienne Barbanson Collection, 13
sold at Christie’s, The raymond and Frances Bushell Collection May 2013, London, lot 25 (sold for
of Netsuke Part I, 27 October 1987, London, lot 236 (estimate 16.250 GBp).
6.000-8.000 GBp).
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Estimate EUR 7.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,- Starting price EUr 3.500,-

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