Page 86 - Bonhams Japanese Works of Art September 2015 New York

3151 3155
A WOOD NETSUKE OF A TANUKI (RACCOON DOG) A WOOD NETSUKE OF A RAKAN
By Tomonobu, Edo period (19th century) Edo period (19th century)
The mischievous creature carved seated on a rush mat, its forepaws Humorously carved as a Rakan seated on a lotus leaf scratching his back
braced on its giant belly, its head slightly raised with its mouth open, with a scepter, a satisfied look on his face, the wood bearing a fine patina
the wood bearing a fine patina, signed on the underside Tomonobu 1 3/8in (3.5cm) wide
1 3/8in (3.6cm) high $800 - 1,200
$1,000 - 1,500
3156
3152 A LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF A DRAGON FISH
A WOOD NETSUKE OF OKAME Edo period (18th century)
By Kyoryusai Ittan, Nagoya, Edo period (early 19th century) The dragon fish carved in a coil with its tail clasped in its mouth, the
The humorous netsuke carved to resemble a ceramic hand-warmer details in raised relief, with Negoro-style lacquer decoration
modeled as Okame dressed in Daruma’s robes, signed Ittan with kao 1 3/4in (4.5cm) wide
and inscribed Toto hakkei no uchi Imado $4,000 - 6,000
1 3/8in (3.5cm) high
$5,000 - 7,000 3157
AN EROTIC NETSUKE OF A FISH
Mitate (visual puns) were popular not only as humor, but also as Edo period (19th century)
subversive pokes at authority. Here the bawdy Okame is wrapped in The corozo nut carved with a suggestive fish entwined around a
Daruma’s robes, her hands underneath the fabric pulled up to her chin cracking egg with its phallus-shaped head near a suggestive opening
in a pose typically associated with the Buddhist patriarch. The addition formed by trailing seaweed
of the inscription referring to the popular woodblock print subject of 1 5/8in (4.1cm) wide
Eight Views of Edo is an additional mitate since “Imado” refers not $3,000 - 5,000
only to an eastern suburb of the capital, but also the pottery produced
there as the hand-warmer form of the netsuke suggests. 3158
AN EROTIC WOOD NETSUKE OF MUSHROOMS
Published Edo period (19th century)
George Lazarnick (ed.), The Meinertzhagen Card Index, New York, Carved as a dense group of suggestive mushrooms, the antler stained
1986, p.251 dark, bearing a rich patina
Scholten Japanese Art,Expressions of Style: Netsuke as Art, New 1 1/4in (3.1cm) high
York, August 2001, pl. 51. $1,000 - 1,500

3153 3159
A WOOD NETSUKE OF A TANUKI (RACCOON DOG) AN EROTIC WOOD NETSUKE OF OKAME
By Masayuki, Edo period (19th century) By the Deme family, Edo period (18th century)
Carved seated, happily slapping its belly like a drum, the details finely Carved as a delighted Okame, smiling blissfully as she pleasures herself
carved and highlighted in dark stain, signed on the underside Masayuki with an arm-shaped phallus, her hair neatly dressed in a chignon and
1 1/8in (3 cm) high secured with a comb, her kimono pulled up over her thighs as she squats
$1,200 - 1,800 with her legs apart, the wood bears a fine patina, signed Deme saku
2 3/8in (6cm) high
3154 $10,000 - 15,000
A WOOD NETSUKE OF SHOKI
Edo period (19th century) The arm could be intended to represent that of the Rashomon demon.
The wood bearing a fine patina and carved as the Demon-Queller
with a subdued oni trapped beneath his large hat, the details The Deme family are best known as carvers of mask netsuke, Deme
highlighted in dark stain Uman being one of the artists listed in Soken Kisho, published in
1 1/4in (3.1)cm high 1781. Figure netsuke by them are rare.
$700 - 900
Provenance
Ex-Bletry Collection

Published
Scholten Japanese Art, Expressions of Style: Netsuke as Art, New
York, August 2001, pl. 58

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