Page 57 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

102 | KO: A RARE STAG ANTLER
NETSUKE WITh LIZARD
AND VINE
Signed with a single character Ko 光
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th
century
published: Eskenazi (1993) Japanese
Netsuke from the Carré collection, pp. 150-
151, no. 195.

Carved from a beautiful, choice piece of
stag antler in manju shape. A vine grows
out of a hole in the wall, while a lizard
creeps over the surface, its long tail carved
in motion similar to how the vine grows
out. The lizard’s eyes are inlaid in light horn.
The reverse is carved with an image of a
stylized, moon-shaped temple gong and
a finely carved hossu (Buddhist fly wisk),
which serves as the himotoshi. Signed
within an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche
with a single character KO.
LENGTH 4.3 cm
Condition: Very good, complete condition.
provenance: Purchased at Sotheby’s
London, 16th July 1973, lot 72. Then
collection Jacques H. Carré.
Literature comparison:
The single character Ko may suggest Koichi,
as a similar netsuke with a lizard and
with an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche
is illustrated in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016)
Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler
Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 274-275, no.
502.
Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,-
103 | A FINE STAG ANTLER MANJU NETSUKE
OF A TURTLE AMONGST LEAVES
Unsigned
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century

published: Eskenazi (1993) Japanese Netsuke from the Carré
collection, pp. 154-155, no. 202.

The turtle emerging from an elaborately carved bundle of autumn
leaves, half of its body hidden within. The reptile’s carapace is finely
carved, as are the leaves all around, which partially form an open-
worked structure. The underside with ‘natural’ himotoshi formed
by the stalk of a reishi fungus, which like the turtle, symbolizes
longevity.
LENGTH 4.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: Ex collection Jacques H. Carré, purchased from
Sydney L. Moss Ltd. in 1975.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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