Page 43 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

79 | OhARA MITSUhIRO: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE
OF TSUITATE WITh DARUMA AND pINE TREE
By Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875), signed Mitsuhiro 光廣
Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The tsuitate (standing screen) carved on one side with an image
of a grim, pensive Daruma against a finely stippled ishime ground.
The other side with a beautifully carved pine tree, against the same
stippled ground, and next to the signature in a wavy polished
reserve MITSUHIrO.
The ivory is typically stained, and the area separating the two
sides of the screen is executed in ishime as well. The underside
shows the two arched feet on which the screen stands on and one
himotoshi, the other ingeniously worked into a ‘natural’ opening of
the pine tree.
HEIGHT 3.5 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: French private
collection, acquired from an
Anonymous Sale, Sotheby’s,
12 December 2002, London,
lot 323.
Auction comparison:
For a related netsuke, showing
the same stippled pattern
and an identical style of the
signature see Bonhams, The
Julius and Arlette Katchen
Collection of Fine Netsuke Part
I, 8 November 2016, London,
lot 154 (sold for 10.000 GBp).
78 | A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A MAN LIFTING Estimate EUR 2.000,-
A RICE BALE ATTRIBUTED TO ANRAKU Starting price EUr 1.000,-
Attributed to Shukosai Anraku(sai), unsigned
Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A finely stained and carved ivory netsuke depicting a man of 80 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF AN EMA
pronounced muscular stature, completely naked except for a (VOTIVE TABLET)
loincloth, bending over and straining to lift a heavy, finely inked
and incised, rice bale. The comical facial expression and staining Unsigned
strongly suggest the hand of Shukosai Anraku(sai) of Osaka. Natural Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
himotoshi.
HEIGHT 3.5 cm Carved in the shape of an ema (votive tablet) and incised with fine
kebori depicting a hawk on a branch, sharply turning to the right.
Condition: Very good condition, fine age cracks and wear to The backside incised with a branch and vines, hiding the natural
staining. cracks in the material. Good himotoshi through the reverse.
Provenance: British collection.
The carving style reminds of the Osaka school and particularly
Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875) who frequently used kebori and
AUCTION COMpARISON
Compare the manner of the face, katakiri on his works, though this piece is certainly earlier.
staining and use of sumi (ink) to a
netsuke recently sold by Lempertz, HEIGHT 4.2 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm
Netsuke aus der Sammlung Albert
Brockhaus, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot Condition: Very good condition, fine patina to the back. Natural age
476 (sold for 10.000 EUR). cracks.
Provenance: French private collection.
Estimate EUR 2.000,- Estimate EUR 600,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,- Starting price EUr 300,-

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