Page 13 - Bonhams November 4 2021 Japanese art London

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A KUROGAKI (BLACK PERSIMMON) WOOD A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT KIRIN
SASHI NETSUKE OF AN AUBERGINE By Ikkan (1817-1893), Nagoya, 19th century
Attributed to Kaigyokusai Masatsugu, Osaka, Lying with its head slightly raised and turned to the left, its tail
Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1870 drawn forward and its legs folded underneath to form a compact
The aubergine of elongated form, the long stem curling to form the composition, flames licking its flanks, signed in an oval reserve Ikkan;
himotoshi; unsigned. 14.7cm (5¾in) long. with a plain wood storage box. 3.6cm (1 3/8in) long. (2).
£1,200 - 1,800 £15,000 - 20,000
JPY180,000 - 270,000 JPY2,300,000 - 3,000,000
US$1,600 - 2,500 US$20,000 - 27,000

It was relatively rare for Kaigyokusai to deviate from carving animal A similar example by the artist from the Harriet Szechenyi Collection
netsuke. Of 656 entries for the artist in Fuld’s Netsuke and Ojime was sold in these Rooms, 8 November 2011, lot 50. Other similar
Index, only 73 are of plants. Aubergines appear to be a favourite plant examples are illustrated by George Lazarnick, Netsuke and Inro
of the artist, with 18 listed by Fuld, 16 of carved wood. Artists and How to Read Their Signatures, Honolulu, Reed Publishers,
1982, p.508, and Bernard Hurtig, Masterpieces of Netsuke Art: One
A signed example described as ebony was sold at Sotheby’s, London, Thousand Favourites of Leading Collectors, New York and Tokyo,
9 June 1971, lot 48. Weatherhill, 1980, p.45, no.103. For another example, please see
Henri L. Joly, W. L. Behrens Collection: Part I. Netsuke, Saint Paul,
Minnesota, Paragon Book Reprint Corp, 1966, pl.XXVI, no. 1377.

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue. JAPANESE ART | 11