Page 56 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

101 | KOMIN: A DARK WOOD NETSUKE
OF A KAppA EMERGING FROM A CONCh
By Komin, signed Komin 光珉 with kakihan
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An incredibly fine and detailed carving from dark wood with reddish
hues. A kappa is shown emerging from a large conch, its claws
placed on the exterior and its gloomy eyes staring. Its expression
is quite amusing, and the hairdo is somewhat unusual, almost
resembling an old British court wig. The conch is smoothly polished,
providing a stark contrast to the masterful ukibori used on the
mythical being’s unarmored body parts and the well-detailed
shell. The hollow section on the kappa’s head, which according to
legend hold its vital fluids, is inlaid in pewter and lacquer. Good,
asymmetrical himotoshi through the underside and signed KOMIN
plus kakihan.
Several netsuke by Komin depicting kappa are known, however this
is the only variant showing the creature emerging from a conch
rather than having its foot stuck inside a hamaguri clam.

LENGTH 4.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: Ex collection Harriet Szechenyi sold in her sale at
Bonhams, 8 November 2011, London, lot 53 (sold for 4.750 GBp).
Then collection Jacques H. Carré.
Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.000,-
100 | GENRYOSAI MINKOKU: A RARE MARINE
IVORY NETSUKE WITh OTSU-E DESIGN
OF FUJIhIME AND ONI NEMBUTSU
By Genryosai Minkoku, signed Genryosai 玄了齋
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
published: Katchen, Arlette (2010) Netsuke 7, Vol. 1, pp. 298-299,
no. K938.

The marine ivory glossy and of a very appealing color, deep yellow
in the back. The form may be a stylized image of a scroll on which
Otsu-e motifs were depicted, as the netsuke shows a pronounced
curvature, in part also due to the natural orientation of the material
used. The front side is decorated with an image of Fujihime carrying
a branch wisteria and her hat, the finial inlaid in mother-of-pearl.
The reverse shows a repenting oni holding a gong, a mallet, and a
Buddhist subscription list. Himotoshi through the reverse, above
the signature GENryOSAI.
HEIGHT 5.1 cm
Condition: Very good condition, with minor wear to inked features.
Small crack through the mother-of-pearl inlay.
provenance: Julius and Arlette Katchen collection, Paris, sold in
their sale at Sotheby’s London, 8th November 2005, Part I, lot 63
(sold for 6.720 GBP). Then collection Jacques H. Carré.
Otsu-e were popular woodblock prints or paintings during the Edo
period, which were sold in the town of Otsu and featured Buddhist
and humoristic images, often depicting Oni nembutsu and Fujihime,
as in the present netsuke.
Estimate EUR 6.000,-
Starting price EUr 3.000,-

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