Page 94 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

182| IKKOSAI: A VERY FINE IVORY NETSUKE
OF A MONKEY WITh SLEEpING YOUNG

By ‘Saru’ Ikkosai, signed Ikkosai 一光齋 Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear to staining.
Japan, Edo/Tokyo, second half of 19th century provenance: Ex collection Seymour Trower, collected between
1876 and 1910.
published: Joly, Henri L. (1975) Catalogue of the H. Seymour
Trower Collection of Japanese Art, no. 508. Literature comparison:
Galerie Zacke (1984) Netsuke und Inro, no. 115. Compare to an ivory netsuke by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu in Hurtig,
rimondi, Gianni / Zacke, Lukas: Combien de Ikkosai. Part 2. In: Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, no. 701.
International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 39, no. 3, Fall 2019, p. 31,
fig. 30.
AUCTION COMpARISON
Compare to a similar monkey
signed Hojitsu, sold at Bonhams,
Depicted is a male monkey holding its sleeping young close to its
body as it is about to examine a flea which it holds up with its finely The Julius and Arlette Katchen
carved, bony fingers. The expression of the sleeping monkey is Collection of Fine Netsuke Part
peaceful and serene, showing extremely fine carving on a limited II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 113
space. The pupils of the father monkey are inlaid in dark horn. The (sold for 8.750 GBp).
ivory is beautifully stained and the hairwork is masterful, nothing A group of three monkeys by
short of a netsuke by Osaka carver Kaigyokusai Masatsugu. In fact, Ikkosai was sold at Bonhams,
the two carvers must have had a shared sphere of influence as The Julius and Arlette Katchen
there are related models, strikingly similar in both quality and style, Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I,
that are signed Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (see literature comparison). 8 November 2016, London,
Natural himotoshi through the feet of the adult monkey and signed lot 101 (sold for 4.000 GBp).
within a polished reserve underneath IKKOSAI.
Estimate EUR 5.000,-
HEIGHT 2.5 cm Starting price EUr 2.500,-

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