Page 87 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

166| GYOKKOSAI: A RARE IVORY NETSUKE
OF TWO RAKAN AND DRAGON

By Gyokkosai, signed Gyokkosai 玉光齋
Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An ivory netsuke by the accomplished artist Gyokkosai of the Ikkosai
school (see also no. 167). Depicted is an unusual subject showing
two rakan (Buddhist disciples), the one to the right standing and
165| A VERY RARE CORAL AND IVORY holding a hossu (Buddhist fly whisk) and the other (probably
NETSUKE OF A DRAGON IN A CLOUD Handaka Sonja) sitting and holding an alms bowl from which a
finely carved sinuous dragon emerges, curling around the back and
resting its hand on the standing rakan’s hand. Signed underneath
Unsigned
Japan, Tokyo, second half of 19th century to Meiji period GyOKKOSAI.
(1868-1912)
HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 3.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear to ivory.
An extraordinarily rare and unusual netsuke depicting a dragon
inside a cloud. The cloud is carved from a solid piece of coral with provenance: Ancient collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-
finely incised curls imitating the swirling structure of the cloud. The 1921) collection no. 321. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile
mythical being’s head ‘pops’ out of an opening of the cloud, its two industrialist and art collector specializing particularly in works from
claws placed firmly in front of its body. Further openings in the coral Japan. He is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-
show the dragon’s scaly body as it winds itself throughout the coral Bresson.
cloud. The dragon is inlaid in green stained ivory, and the volutes
emanating from its body are left unstained. The underside shows Estimate EUR 2.500,-
the dragon’s tail which forms a loop, functioning as the himotoshi. Starting price EUr 1.250,-
The work is clearly Tokyo school and may suggest the hand of
Jugyoku.
Though rarely seen in netsuke art, the combination of coral and
dragon is a popular motif, as it embodies the sky and the sea, and
likely serves as a symbol for the dragon king of the sea ryujin.
LENGTH 4.5 cm
Condition: repair to the right claw and some discoloration to the
underside of the coral.
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Estimate EUR 3.000,- Portrait of charles cartier-Bresson by Jean-Matthias Schiff in
Starting price EUr 1.500,- the Museum of Fine Arts Nancy

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