Page 65 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

116 | A FINE YAMADA SChOOL
NETSUKE OF A RAT ON A
GROUp OF NASUBI
Unsigned, inscribed Gisaku 儀作
Japan, Ise-yamada, 19th century,
Edo period (1615-1868)

A finely carved rat is seated atop a large
nasubi (eggplant), with two further nasubi
carved next to it. The wood is finely stained,
the details are rendered very well, and
the eyes of the rat are inlaid in dark horn.
Interestingly, the netsuke is not signed but
inscribed GISAKU – meaning carved for fun
or in amusement.
LENGTH 4.7 cm
Condition: Excellent condition. Natural
flaws to the nasubi.
Provenance: European collection.
Literature comparison: 118 | A FINE NETSUKE OF
For a similar netsuke of a snail on eggplant A RAT ON A MORTAR
signed Gisaku, see The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, accession no. 10.211.2206. Unsigned
This is likely by the same hand and it Japan, Ise-yamada, second half of
appears that a carver from the Masanao 19th century
school of yamada sometimes signed his
netsuke in this manner. published: Brockhaus, Albert (1905)
Netsuke. Versuch einer Geschichte der
Estimate EUR 2.000,- japanischen Schnitzkunst, p. 434, no. 116.
Starting price EUr 1.000,-
A finely carved and quite amusing netsuke
of a rat lifting itself up and using one
117 | KIMIhIRO: A WOOD leg to push down the handle, the pestle
ShUNGA NETSUKE at the other end crushing the contents
OF A NASUBI of the mortar. The rat’s eyes inlaid with
black horn, the fur minutely incised.
Signed Kimihiro 侯廣 There are natural possibilities for the cord
Japan, Ise-yamada, 19th century, attachment, though this fine carving is
Edo period (1615-1868) certainly more a miniature okimono.
HEIGHT 2.8 cm, LENGTH 3.2 cm
Carved as a nasubi with a long stem and
naturalistically rendered leaves. The flesh is Condition: Excellent condition.
revealed on the underside, sensually, and provenance: Ancient collection Albert
very much resembles female private parts. Brockhaus (1855-1912), acquired in
The wood of a good color with a fine patina. London, 31 August 1896.
Himotoshi near the signature KIMIHIrO
– the artist appears to be unrecorded, Estimate EUR 2.500,-
however the style is certainly that of the Starting price EUr 1.250,-
Ise-yamada school.

HEIGHT 5.5 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: US private collection, old
collection no. 17.
Estimate EUR 800,-
Starting price EUr 400,-

Portrait of Albert Brockhaus

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