Page 44 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

81 | OhARA MITSUhIRO: A FINE WOOD
NETSUKE OF A BIZEN CERAMIC OF hOTEI

By Ohara Mitsuhiro, signed Mitsuhiro 光廣 with seal Ohara 大原
Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A faithfully carved wood netsuke of a Bizen ceramic figure depicting
Hotei holding a fan and his treasure bag, finely carved and stained.
A seam runs around the whole piece, as it would through the
real Bizen ceramic. The finish imitates the salt glaze very well.
Typical small himotoshi to the reverse, the other ‘natural’ through
the hollow opening. Signed MITSUHIrO with seal OHArA. Wood
netsuke by Mitsuhiro are considerably rare.
This type is described in Takarabukuro (Mitsuhiro’s notebook)
under no. 152 (p. 128) as ‘Hotei, Fushimi Ware’: “An exact copy.
Finish with a round knife. Hollow out fully and give it an antique
feeling. Make use of the hollowed part for a cord-hole. Carve it after
a real object.”
HEIGHT 4.5 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection.

AUCTION COMpARISON
An ivory variant was sold by
Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham
Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9
November 2010, London, lot 163
(sold for 5.400 GBp).

Estimate EUR 7.000,-
Starting price EUr 3.500,-

84 85