Page 128 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

145 | A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A
BITCH AND PUP BY OKATOMO
By Yamaguchi Okatomo, signed Tomotada
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Boldly carved as a reclining female dog with her young nestling up
to her. The pup faces in the other direction and scratches its chin,
while the mother protectively curls around him. The hairwork is
typically masterful and characteristically worn, and the features,
such as the expressed spine and shoulder bones, are powerfully
executed. The eyes of the mother are inlaid with dark horn. The
underside shows the many paws, large asymmetrical himotoshi and
signature TOMOTADA Ƥฑ in a rectangular reserve.

HEIGHT 2.3 cm, LENGTH 4.1 cm
Condition: Expected age cracks and wear to ivory. One horn pupil
is replaced. The underside shows a deep honey-patina. The edge
of the tail shows a crack and some discoloration and is probably
restored. Literature comparison: For another netsuke of a bitch and pup,
Provenance: British collection. the pup facing away like in the present netsuke, was sold at
Sotheby’s, 30 June 1975, lot 37 and illustrated in the journal of the
Although the netsuke is signed Tomotada, it is more likely the International Netsuke Collector’s Society, vol.3, no. 3, page 14.
work of Yamaguchi Okatomo – the expression and curling of the
tail being idiosyncrasies of the artist. Some of the best works by Estimate EUR 7.000,-
Okatomo are in fact signed Tomotada. Starting price EUR 3.500,-

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