Page 80 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

148| MINZAN: A WOOD NETSUKE 150| MIWA: AN EDO SChOOL WOOD
OF DAIKOKU AND EBISU NETSUKE OF A DRUNK STORYTELLER
By Minzan, signed Minzan 民山 Signed Miwa 三輪
Japan, probably Edo, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Japan, Edo, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A boldly carved and animated study of Ebisu and Daikoku standing The wood of an appealing chocolate brown color with an excellent
side by side, holding a fan and a hammer, respectively. The pair is hand patina. Depicted is a storyteller dressed in a long flowing robe,
masquerading as Manzai dancers. The wood of a very good color a low table before him with an open book, showing finely incised
with remnants of black lacquer in the crevices. Himotoshi and calligraphy. One hand is placed on the table (note the finely carved,
signature MINZAN through Daikoku’s bag in the back. bony fingers) and the other holds a cup, presumably filled with an
alcoholic beverage (sake), as his face is quite telling. His wide-jawed
This carver who signed Minzan is possibly a pupil of Genryosai mouth is opened, as he is bellowing the contents from the book
Minkoku I, as they share the first kanji 民, and F. Meinertzhagen before him. The underside with one typically large himotoshi and
notes that there was a Minzan who worked in ivory, who was a pupil the other ringed in stained bone. Signed MIWA.
of Minkoku II.
HEIGHT 3.3 cm, LENGTH 3.1 cm
HEIGHT 5.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear. remnants of Provenance: Japanese private collection.
red paint on the underside.
Provenance: French private collection. Though the work certainly has all the characteristics of a Miwa
netsuke, it is this author’s opinion that this was in fact an unsigned
Estimate EUR 1.200,- Miwa netsuke and the signature appears to have been added later.
Starting price EUr 600,-
Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.000,-
149| hOKUShU: A WOOD NETSUKE
OF FUKUROKUJU

By Hokushu, signed Hokushu 北秀
Japan, probably Edo, early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Katchen, Arlette (2010) Netsuke 7, Vol. 2, pp. 245-246,
no. K969. 151| ShOGYOKU: AN INLAID WOOD
NETSUKE OF ONI AT SETSUBUN
Depicting the lucky god standing, one hand holding an uchiwa fan By Shogyoku, signed Shogyoku 正玉
and the other supporting his large, suggestively bulbous head. Japan, Edo, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Large himotoshi through the back of the head, one of them ringed
in yellow-stained bone. The carving, choice of material and inlaid
himotoshi are certainly suggestive of the early Edo school. Signed A well-carved wood netsuke depicting an oni cowering underneath
near the foot – HOKUSHU. a large straw hat, almost completely hidden underneath it, except
for the clawed hand visible on top which holds the hat in place.
HEIGHT 10.4 cm Three small ivory pellets are inlaid, two of them stained green,
resembling the roasted soybeans which are pelted at the oni during
Condition: Worn old cracks to the cranium. the oni-yarai ceremony at setsubun day. The underside shows
provenance: Julius and Arlette Katchen collection, Paris. one visible eye and the overlapping limbs forming the himotoshi.
Beautiful patina throughout.
Estimate EUR 2.500,-
Starting price EUr 1.250,- LENGTH 3.6 cm
Condition: Good condition. Fine patina. One worn down chip to the
front of the hat.
provenance: Ex collection Ted Adameck, collection no. 157 (valued
at 2.000 USD). Copy of old inventory available.

Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUr 600,-

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