Page 16 - Bonhams Japanese art nov 7 2024
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           A WOOD NETSUKE OF AN ASHINAGA AND A TENAGA        TWO LACQUER NETSUKE
           Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century              Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
           Both represented as curly-haired South Sea Islanders seated beside   The first a clam shell embellished in gold togidashi maki-e with a crab
           one another, the ashinaga with a drum at his hip, clutching his long legs   and fish among assorted shells and aquatic plants, the reverse signed
           tightly towards his body, while the tenaga places his hands on the knees  Rozan, 4.7cm x 7cm (1 13/16in x 2¾in); the second a hako-netsuke, the
           of his friend; unsigned. 4.5cm x 5cm (1¾in x 2in).  cover decorated in red lacquer high relief with two sages, the sides of
                                                             the box with autumn plants, unsigned, 2cm x 4cm (¾in x 1½in);
           £2,500 - 3,000                                    with two plain wood storage boxes. (4).
           JPY490,000 - 580,000
           US$3,300 - 3,900                                  £1,500 - 2,000
                                                             JPY290,000 - 390,000
           Provenance:                                       US$2,000 - 2,600
           June Schuerch Collection, Santa Barbara, Calif.
                                                             21
           17                                                A STAG-ANTLER SEAL NETSUKE
           ATTRIBUTED TO JUGYOKU II                          Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th/early 19th century
           A Stained Stag-Antler Netsuke of a Rooftile       In the form of an elephant smoothly carved with large ears and almond-
           Edo period (1615-1815) or Meiji era (1868-1912), mid/late 19th century  shaped eyes above sharp tusks flanking a long trunk, standing four-
           Carved in high relief with a demonic face in the centre with typical fangs   square on a large oval seal base; the underside carved with Chinese
           and curlicues framed by exaggeratedly protruding hair; signed on the   characters. 4.8cm x 5.5cm (1 7/8in x 2¾in).
           underside with a red seal Ju’un. 3.6cm x 6cm (1 3/8in x 2 3/8in).
                                                             £3,000 - 4,000
           £3,000 - 5,000                                    JPY580,000 - 780,000
           JPY580,000 - 970,000                              US$3,900 - 5,200
           US$3,900 - 6,500
                                                             Provenance:
           Provenance:                                       June Schuerch Collection, Santa Barbara, Calif.
           June Schuerch Collection, Santa Barbara, Calif.
                                                             Published and Illustrated:
           Published and Illustrated:                        Sydney L. Moss, Kokusai the Genius and Stag-antler Carving in Japan,
           Sydney L. Moss, Kokusai the Genius and Stag-antler Carving in Japan,   vol.I, Hong Kong, 2016, no.51.
           vol.III, London, 2016, no. 570.
                                                             Elephants were occasionally sent to Japan as diplomatic gifts, the most
           For a close example by Jugyoku, see Victor Harris, Netsuke, The Hull   renowned being the Kyoho elephants, which were received in 1728, and
           Grundy Collection in the British Museum, no.96, p.36. For two wood   had a considerable influence on artists and craftsmen thereafter. The
           examples by the artist, see Marie-Thérèse Coullery, and Martin S.   final known instance of such a gift occurred in 1813, when the British
           Newstead, The Baur Collection: Netsuke, London and Boston,    under Sir Stamford Raffles sent an elephant to Japan in a bid to foster
           Kegan Paul, 1977 nos. C637 and C638.              trade relations. Unfortunately, this diplomatic gesture was ultimately
                                                             unsuccessful; the elephant was returned, and the opportunity to open
           18                                                trade was not realised. Ota Nanpo (1749-1823) a shogunal official,
           MITSU (KO)                                        poet and writer wrote:
           A Boxwood Netsuke of the Sanbiki no Saru (Three Apes)
           Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century              First visit in Oei
           Each seated cross-legged huddled together forming a compact   By Kyoho we’re on good terms
           composition, comprising Iwazaru shown concealing his mouth, Kikazaru  Bu the third time they come, we have to send them back
           with both his hands over his ears, and Mizaru shielding both his eyes,   These newfangled elephants
           the apes enacting the concept of ‘see, hear and speak no evil’; signed
           on the underside with a single character Mitsu/Ko. 4cm (1½in) high.  The seal could be read as Seiju koshi (Star Longevity Prospers One’s
                                                             Clan). Another possible reading connects the term ‘seiju’ to one of
           £800 - 1,200                                      the ninety intersection points on a go board, suggesting a symbolic
           JPY160,000 - 230,000                              connection to longevity and auspiciousness, fitting for someone who is
           US$1,000 - 1,600                                  ninety years old, or aspiring to reach that age.
           19  Y Ф                                           22
           OUCHI GYOKUSO (1879-1944) OF TOKYO                A STAG-ANTLER SEAL NETSUKE
           A Wood Netsuke of a Carpenter                     Edo period (1615-1868), probably 18th century
           Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th century  In the form of of a large shishi (Chinese Mythical Lion) seated upright on
           The artisan knelt over an upturned wheel, positioning his kanna (plane)   an oval seal base, its mouth open and baying at the moon, the hairwork
           to smooth the wood, a mallet lying at his feet, a manju-netsuke and an   on its body carved in low relief, the seal carved with the character for a
           ivory pouch suspended from his waistband; signed on the underside   ho-o bird. 7.3cm (2 7/8in) high.
           Gyokuso. 3.7cm x 3.5cm (1 3/8in x 1 5/16in).
                                                             £3,000 - 5,000
           £1,000 - 1,500                                    JPY580,000 - 970,000
           JPY190,000 - 290,000                              US$3,900 - 6,500
           US$1,300 - 2,000
                                                             Provenance:
           This lot has been registered in accordance with the Ivory Act    June Schuerch Collection, Santa Barbara, Calif.
           (Section 10), reference no.4L63HG1B.
                                                             Published and Illustrated:
                                                             Sydney L. Moss, Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan,
                                                             vol.I, London, 2016, no.44.


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