Page 99 - Fine Japanese Art September 25, 2020 Galerie Zacke Netsuke and Sagemono

192| A RARE INLAID WOOD NETSUKE OF SEIOBO,
URAShIMA TARO AND MIURA NO OSUKE
DRINKING SAKE

By Tomotoshi, signed Tomotoshi 友利
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)
published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986)
MCI, Part B, p. 924.

A finely carved wood netsuke depicting the three paragons of
immortality. Urashima Taro is to the left, a minogame at his feet,
holding out a large sakazuki (sake cup) as Seiobo, the Queen
Mother of the West, pours sake into it from a double gourd. Seiobo
wears an elaborate phoenix headdress and a basket of peaches,
granting immortality, is carved below her. The figure to the right
is Miura No Osuke; he is holding a fan, his garment is inlaid with
mother-of-pearl roundels and he has an ivory sword tied to his obi.
The underside with the himotoshi ringed in ivory and the signature
within a green-stained tablet reading TOMOTOSHI.
LENGTH 4.9 cm, HEIGHT 3.3 cm
194| OUChI GYOKUSO: A FINE IVORY
Condition: One tiny chip to the edge of Seiobo’s garment to the NETSUKE OF A FOX WITh CUB
back, otherwise perfect condition.
provenance: Ex collection Ted Adameck, collection no. 13 (valued By Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944), signed Gyokuso 玉藻
at 7.000 USD). Copy of old inventory available. Japan, Tokyo, early 20th century
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUr 750,- The adult fox, finely carved with a sly expression, resting one
paw affectionately and protectively on her cub, which raises its
head towards the mother. The ivory with an attractively light,
yellowish stain and the hairwork is masterfully incised and inked.
193| NORIShIGE: A WOOD NETSUKE OF AN ONI The underside shows the well-carved paws and natural himotoshi
GETTING hIS EAR CLEANED BY A BIJIN through the swinging bushy tail. Signed in the back within a
polished reserve GyOKUSO.
By Norishige, signed Norishige 則重
Japan, Tokyo, second half of 19th century Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944) was, together with Morita Soko, the
most important pupil of Joso, the founder of the So school in Tokyo.
The wood covered in a light stain, similar to the stain used by the HEIGHT 3.2 cm
So-school of Tokyo. Depicted is a bijin (beauty) cleaning the ear of
an oni, a sign of affection, which is also known as mimikaki. The oni Condition: Very good condition. The sumi (ink) used to highlight the
is a repentant oni, as he wears a loose monk’s robe and holds a hairwork is ever so slightly worn.
rosary in his right hand. Natural himotoshi and signed underneath provenance: Ex Farley collection, sold at Sotheby’s, 10 July 1974,
NOrISHIGE. London, lot 57. Since then in a French private collection.
HEIGHT 4.1 cm, LENGTH 4.2 cm Auction comparison:
Gyokuso carved this model in both wood and ivory. The only other
Condition: Very good condition. ivory one was sold at Christie’s, The raymond and Frances Bushell
Provenance: British private estate. Collection of Netsuke Part II, 18 October 1988, London, lot 108.
Estimate EUR 1.200,- Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUr 600,- Starting price EUr 1.500,-

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