Page 85 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

160| KAGETOShI: A RARE INLAID 161| KAGETOShI: AN UNUSUAL WOOD KARAKURI
EBONY KARAKURI (TRICK) (TRICK) NETSUKE OF SEIOBO INSIDE A pEACh pIT
WOOD NETSUKE OF SEIOBO
By Kagetoshi, signed Kagetoshi 景利
By Kagetoshi, signed Kagetoshi 景利 Japan, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Japan, mid-19th century, Edo period
(1615-1868)
The outside realistically carved from wood in two halves held together by a cord to depict a
peach pit, the inside revealing the Queen Mother of the West Seiobo, minutely carved from an
The leafy peach finely carved from ebony actual peach pit, and holding a fan whilst leaning against a rock. The inside with an inlaid ivory
wood, two of the leaves inlaid in stained signature tablet KAGETOSHI.
bone. The peach can be opened to reveal a
minutely carved ivory structure on the inside, An amusing take on the subject, as Seiobo (Xiwangmu) was known for her garden where
executed in sukashi-bori, and depicting immortality-granting peaches grow.
Seiobo (known for her immortality-granting
peaches) and an attendant below a pine LENGTH 5 cm
tree. Central himotoshi on the underside
of the peach, next to the signature within a Condition: Small chips to the edge of the exterior peach on one side. Otherwise perfect
rectangular reserve – KAGETOSHI. condition.
Provenance: US private collection.
HEIGHT 3.2 cm
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Condition: Very good condition. The pin Starting price EUr 600,-
which keeps the peach closed has been lost
but is easily replaced.
provenance: Ex collection Ted Adameck.
159| KAGETOShI: A FINE IVORY Literature comparison:
NETSUKE OF ThREE ShOJO A very similar netsuke (described as
sea-princess and attendants in peach)
By Kagetoshi, signed Kagetoshi 景利 is illustrated in Hurtig, Bernard (1973)
Japan, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, p. 176, no. 455.

Estimate EUR 1.200,-
A fine and compact netsuke depicting three drunken shojo, one holding Starting price EUr 600,-
a barrel of sake and the other two playing instruments. Each shojo has
long hair, an elaborately adorned robe and their expressions convey
their drunkenness very well. Signed in a rectangular reserve underneath
KAGETOSHI. The himotoshi through the underside are cleverly worked into
the composition.
HEIGHT 2.5 cm, LENGTH 3.6 cm

Condition: Very good, complete condition.
provenance: Ex collection E. Wrangham, sold in his sale Part II, 10 May
2011, lot 140. Then collection Jacques Carré.
Literature comparison:
A related netsuke depicting three shojo inside a sake barrel is pictured in
Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, p. 116, no. 451.

Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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