Page 104 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

SNAKE / HEBI

The snake (hebi) is the sixth sign of the zodiac.
For Buddhists the snake is a symbol of female
voluptuousness, jealousy and hatred.

114 | MITSUNAGA: AN EXCELLENT IVORY
NETSUKE OF A COILED SNAKE
113 | A GOOD IVORY NETSUKE
OF A COILED DRAGON By Mitsunaga, signed Mitsunaga
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Unsigned
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A compact, powerful and naturalistic model of a coiled snake, its
body forming a knot, and its head placed on top, lurking, and fixing
An unusual model of a coiled dragon, powerfully carved, its body its eyes on some sort of prey, its tongue greedily extended. The
winding, the crisply carved claws shown on the sides of this dense scales are masterfully carved, and the glaring eyes are double inlaid
scaly bundle. The dragon’s head is placed on top of its coiling body, in mother of pearl with horn pupils. The himotoshi formed through
like a snake, alert and ready to strike. The celestial being lets out a the s-shaped end-section of the tail on the underside and the
snarl, its pupils are minutely inlaid in dark horn and the long flaming signature MITSUNAGA ʾǣ in a rounded reserve.
beard flows down its body. The ivory is of a very good color with
a fine glossy patina. The underside with large, generous and well- HEIGHT 3.2 cm, LENGTH 4.3 cm
placed himotoshi.
Condition: Excellent condition.
HEIGHT 2.6 cm, LENGTH 4.2 cm Provenance: French private collection.

Condition: Fine condition with expected age cracks. From the quality and power of this study, it is plausible that this
Provenance: French private collection. could be a pupil of Mitsuharu of Kyoto.
Estimate EUR 2.500,- Estimate EUR 4.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.250,- Starting price EUR 2.000,-

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