Page 76 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

134| A WOOD NETSUKE OF RAIJIN 136| UNBOKU: A FINE WOOD
NETSUKE OF A TEMpLE SERVANT
Unsigned pOLIShING A BELL
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
By Unboku, signed Unboku 運卜
Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The thunder god seated, exclaiming, with his legs and arms
crossed, his thunder drums attached to his back. The wood of an published: Brockhaus, Albert (1905) Netsuke. Versuch
appealing color with remnants of black lacquer in the crevices. einer Geschichte der japanischen Schnitzkunst, p. 316,
Himotoshi through the back. no. 346.
HEIGHT 4 cm
The temple servant (eji) is depicted here dressed only in a fundoshi
Condition: Very good condition. Fine patina. (loin cloth) and polishing a huge temple bell, struggling to hold
Provenance: European collection. on as he spreads his limbs wide in an effort to encompass the
massive round structure. One foot is placed inside the opening
Estimate EUR 1.200,- of the bell and with his free hand he is holding on to the bell’s
Starting price EUr 600,- attaching loop. His strained expression is crafted humorously. To
make matters worse his fundoshi is unravelling, the loose section
ingeniously forming the himotoshi. The wood of a very good color
with a fine natural hand patina. A clever and amusing composition
of ideally compact netsuke shape. A loose ball is inside the bell,
so the netsuke rattles when shook. Signed within an oval reserve
UNBOKU.
HEIGHT 3.6 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with a fine natural hand patina.
provenance: Ancient collection Albert Brockhaus (1855-1921),
Leipzig, acquired on 25th September 1898.

Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,- Portrait of Albert Brockhaus

135| A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF KUMAGAI
NAOZANE ON hORSEBACK

Unsigned
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

This finely carved wood netsuke depicts a famous scene from the
battle of Ichi-no-Tani (1184) where the warrior Kumagai no Jiro
Naozane pursues and ultimately beheads the teenage prince Taira
no Atsumori. The netsuke depicts Kumagai on horseback, the horse
fiercely galloping with its legs spread wide apart. Kumagai, dressed
in full armor, holds a war fan (tessen), a large brocade bag tied to
his back and supported by the horse’s swinging tail. The wood of
a good color with a fine, natural hand patina. The horse’s eyes are
inlaid in pale horn. Asymmetrical himotoshi through the underside.
The subject is very rarely seen in netsuke art.
LENGTH 4.2 cm

Condition: The horse’s
front feet are repaired.
Otherwise excellent
condition with a fine
patina.
Provenance: US private
collection.
Estimate EUR 800,- A Japanese edo-period screen
Starting price EUr 400,- depicting the same scene

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