Page 42 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

74 | hIDEMASA: AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A MAN 76 | DOYU: AN INLAID IVORY MANJU NETSUKE
TEASING A KARAKO WITh AN ONI MASK OF ShOKI AND ONI AS MUSICIANS
By Hidemasa, signed Hidemasa 秀正 By Doyu(sai), signed Doyu 道友
Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Japan, Osaka, second half of 19th century

An ivory netsuke of a man holding a large oni mask before him, a The ivory manju netsuke of thick, oval shape and carved in the front
karako at his feet tugging at the tasseled cord attached to the mask. with an image in high relief of Shoki and an oni as musicians, the
Very good, asymmetrical himotoshi through the man’s back and latter playing a broom which resembles a samisen. The details are
signed within a wavy reserve HIDEMASA. finely inlaid in tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, stained bone, horn
and shibuichi. A metal loop in the reverse functions as the cord
HEIGHT 5 cm attachment. Signed within an inset rectangular mother-of-pearl
plaque DOyU – a pupil of Dosho(sai) of Osaka.
Condition: Very good condition, fine patina. Expected age cracks.
Provenance: French private collection. LENGTH 5.1 cm
Condition: An inlaid section of the broom has been lost. Otherwise
AUCTION COMpARISON excellent condition with very few fine age cracks.
A comparable netsuke by Provenance: French private collection.
the same artist was sold
by Van Ham, Netsuke und Auction comparison:
Japanische Kunst, 8 June A similar netsuke was sold by Zacke, Kunst der Netsuke und Inro
2017, Cologne, lot 1637 Japans - Ausstellung 1991, Vienna, no. 30.
(sold for 1.677 EUR).
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Starting price EUr 750,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,-

75 | A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF ShOKI EMERGING
FROM A SCROLL ATTRIBUTED TO hIDEMASA 77 | DOShO: AN UNUSUAL WOOD KARAKURI
(TRICK) NETSUKE OF hOTEI, EX BUShELL
Attributed to Hidemasa, unsigned
Japan, Osaka, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) By Dosho (1828-1884), signed Dosho 道笑
Japan, Osaka, second half of 19th century
Depicting the demon queller Shoki with his sword drawn emerging
from an unrolling scroll. Shoki has a fierce expression, his large An unusual and finely carved dark wood netsuke depicting the
eye pupils and the roller ends are inlaid in dark horn. The reverse lucky god Hotei leaning against his sack, his teeth and tongue
shows finely incised scrolling vines where the brocade mounting of inlaid in ivory. This netsuke can be categorized as a karakuri (trick)
the scroll would be, and large asymmetrical himotoshi. netsuke, as the inlaid tongue and the separately carved inset head
are movable. Good asymmetrical himotoshi ringed in horn on the
HEIGHT 4.5 cm underside, as well as the minutely incised signature DOSHO.
Condition: Very good condition with fine age cracks. HEIGHT 3.8 cm, LENGTH 4.6 cm
Provenance: French private collection.
Condition: Very good condition, minimal wear and surface
Literature comparison: scratches.
A similar netsuke by Hidemasa is illustrated in Chappell, Welch provenance: Ex collection raymond Bushell, sold Sotheby’s, New
(1999) Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, no. 105. york, 21st March 2000, lot 167 (part lot, sold for 4.600 USD).
Estimate EUR 1.500,- Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,- Starting price EUr 750,-

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