Page 47 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

88 | JITSUGA:
A SUpERB IVORY
NETSUKE OF JO AND
UBA INSIDE A CLAM
By Jitsuga, signed Jitsuga 雅真
Japan, Tokyo, second half of 19th century

Carved from two parts to naturalistically resemble
a hamaguri clam shell, hinged in the back and
when opened revealing a plethora of minutely
detailed, microscopic carving. One half of the
shell is finely carved inside with an image of Jo
and Uba, holding a rake and broom respectively,
and standing underneath a pine tree, a
minogame at their feet. The other half is carved
in relief with cranes, waves and the moon. Signed
on the outside next to the himotoshi – JITSUGA.
According to Miriam Kinsey in her book on
contemporary netsuke, Jitsuga was the third
master of the school of Hakumin of Edo and
originated the ivory clamshell with detailed inside
carving. Similar examples exist by members of
the school of Kaiygokusai Masatusugu of Osaka.
87 | KAIGYOKU MASATSUGU:
AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A MOKUGYO, LENGTH 4.5 cm
EX TOMKINSON AND BUShELL
Condition: Superb condition. Only the two parts
Signed Kaigyoku Masatsugu 懐玉 正次 need to be attached to the hinge and are now
Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) loose.
Provenance: French private collection.
published: Tomkinson, Michael (1898) A Japanese Collection,
no. 965. AUCTION COMpARISON
For two similar netsuke signed Kaigyokusai
Masatsugu, see Bonhams, the Julius and
The temple gong with confronting dragon handles is finely carved Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke
and hollowed out so that when struck it makes a similar sound as Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 28 (sold for
its real-life counterpart would. The ivory is lightly stained, and the 3.500 GBp), and Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art,
incision work is treated with sumi (ink). The himotoshi are natural 12 May 2009, London, lot 170 (sold for
through the opening of the gong on each side. Signed in sosho 3.600 GBp).
(running script) on the underside KAIGyOKU MASATSUGU. Another netsuke by Jitsuga (erroneously
described as Sanemasa, which is another
HEIGHT 2.5 cm, LENGTH 3.5 cm reading for Jitsuga) was sold by Zacke,
Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 24
Condition: Excellent condition. November 2018, Vienna, lot 153 (sold
provenance: Ex Michael Tomkinson, collection no. 965. Ex for 3.942 EUR).
Collection Bushell, sold at Sotheby’s, Netsuke from the Collection of Furthermore, Jitsuga also appears to have
raymond and Frances Bushell, 18 November 1999, London, lot 24 provided carving for a snuff bottle, see
(part lot). Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 May 2011,
London, lot 268 (sold for 7.200 GBp).
Literature comparison:
Another similar temple gong signed Kaigyoku Masatsugu is in
Arakawa, H. (1983) The Go Collection of Netsuke, no. 106.
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUr 600,-

Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.000,-

90 91