Page 91 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

174| TOMOKAZU: A pOWERFUL IVORY
NETSUKE OF BUShO SLAYING ThE TIGER

Signed Tomokazu 友一
Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An impressive ivory netsuke depicting Busho with his left knee
and hand firmly pushing down on a tiger, his other hand raised to 175| hIDEhISA: A pOWERFUL EDO SChOOL WOOD
deliver a deadly blow. The poor tiger is squirming underneath trying NETSUKE OF AN EAGLE SNATChING A FOX
to break free, snarling and turning upwards to face its attacker, its
behind raised and the thick tail curling up around Busho’s back. The By Hidehisa, signed Hidehisa 秀久
ivory is well stained, and the details are finely engraved. Both Busho Japan, Edo, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
and the tiger have inlaid pupils of dark horn. Natural himotoshi and
signed TOMOKAZU within an oval reserve.
An early and powerfully sculpted wood netsuke of an eagle firmly
Busho was part of a band of brigands who terrorized China in the grasping a helpless fox in its talons, one of the claws covering the
13th century. According to legend, he could kill a tiger by delivering fox’s eye. The reverent bird of prey has a fierce expression with
a single blow, as depicted in this netsuke. inlaid eyes of pale horn, its head is slightly tilted downwards, and its
beak is opened voraciously. The feathers and crest of the bird are
HEIGHT 5.2 cm boldly carved. Large, generously excavated himotoshi through the
back and signed underneath within a wavy reserve HIDEHISA – an
Condition: Very good condition, minor wear to inked details. early piece from the Tomochika school of Edo.
Provenance: French private collection.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,- Condition: Very good condition with expected surface wear and a
very good patina.
Provenance: British collection.
Literature comparison:
An almost identical netsuke by Hidehisa is illustrated in in Lazarnick,
George (1982) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to read Their
Signatures, Vol. 1, p. 458.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,-

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