Page 52 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

93 | MASASADA: A pOWERFUL AND RARE
WOOD NETSUKE OF RAIJIN WITh DRUM

By Masasada (Masakazu), signed Masakazu 昌貞
Japan, probably Tanba, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) 94 | A pOWERFUL ShUZAN STYLE SAIShIKI
NETSUKE OF RYUJIN’S ATTENDANT
A powerful wood netsuke of the thunder god raijin squatting, Unsigned
wearing a large drum strapped to his back and holding a geta Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
with both hands in front of him. The oni-like deity is portrayed
with a boldly carved muscular body and well-defined anatomy. In
contrast, his facial features are humoristic, animated and imbued Powerfully carved from hinoki (cypress) wood and painted in
with originality and character – very typical for this rare artist. raijin polychrome pigments, gesso, and some gold, depicting one of
has inlaid ivory horns and fangs, and the studs on the drum and ryujin’s attendants turning sharply to the left and holding a vase
his eyes are inlaid in horn. Unusually, he has an inlaid ear plug with a branch of coral in both hands before him. His face is carved
to one ear, presumably to protect himself from the sound of the expressively. He wears a loose robe falling from his shoulders
roaring thunder. Good himotoshi through the deity’s back and and a scabbard shaped like a dragon fish, the sword resembling
underside and the signature in a rectangular reserve underneath - its protruding tongue is attached to his back. ‘Natural’ himotoshi
MASAKAZU, however the artist is known as Masasada 昌貟. between the scabbard and his back.
HEIGHT 3.1 cm HEIGHT 10.7 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, very good patina. Condition: Good condition with expected surface wear to the
provenance: Sotheby’s London, 16th March 1983, lot 56. Ex polychrome pigments and gesso.
Skiersobolski collection, sold at Bernaerts auction, Antwerp, 13th provenance: Ex collection Mrs. Gunvor Bjorkman, then collection
December 2010, lot 124. Then Jacques H. Carré collection. Jacques H. Carré purchased from Sagemonoya, Tokyo, in 2016.

Literature & Auction comparison:
For a similar model of a raijin see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / AUCTION
Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 430. For a discussion on COMpARISON
the artist see International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 30, no. 3, A very similar netsuke as sold
pp. 22-26, where Jay Hopkins suggests that the artist is probably of by Bonhams, Fine Japanese At,
Tanba origin. 16 May 2013, London, lot 40
For a model of a tengu by this rare artist see Lempertz, Asiatische (sold for 5.000 GBp).
Kunst, 5 December 2015, Cologne, lot 761 (sold for 9.300 EUR).
Estimate EUR 6.000,- Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUr 3.000,- Starting price EUr 2.000,-

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