Page 89 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

169| SUZUKI TOKOKU: A VERY FINE WOOD
NETSUKE OF ThE INFANT pRINCE ShOTOKU

By Suzuki Tokoku (1846-1913), signed Tokoku 東谷 with seal Bairyu 楳立
Japan, Tokyo, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)
published: Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, no. 705.
Bandini, rosemary (2019) The Larry Caplan Collection of Japanese
Netsuke, no. 58.

A charming and exquisitely carved wood netsuke depicting the infant
prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi, 574-622 AD) sitting cross-legged and
holding a Haniwa pottery model of a horse next to him by the ear. In the
other hand he cradles a Haniwa warrior, seemingly speaking to it. The
warrior’s smooth head is pierced in the center, indicating the fixing point
for a helmet. A finely carved dish with a key-fret border design holds two
maga-tama (curved comma-shaped beads from pre-historic Japan), which
he offers to his toys. Shotoku’s hair is minutely incised and the wood is
finely polished. The sparse red color on the stippled surface of the horse
gives an impression of unglazed Haniwa clay. The himotoshi underneath
ringed in bone, next to the signature TOKOKU with gold seal BAIryU.
HEIGHT 2.8 cm, LENGTH 3.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
provenance: Ex collections Victor Topper and Larry Caplan.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
Starting price EUr 2.500,-

174 175