Page 142 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

162 | A RARE AND EARLY NETSUKE
OF A CHINESE HIGH TABLE
Unsigned
Japan, late 17th to early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

A beautifully functional ivory netsuke with a pleasing deep yellow
and honey orange patina, depicting a high Chinese scholarly table,
showing a splendid curvature at the feet, with a blossoming plum
tree in the middle. Natural himotoshi.
HEIGHT 8.7 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with characteristic age cracks, wear
and patina indicating a very early piece.
Provenance: British collection.
Estimate EUR 1.000,-
Starting price EUR 500,-
160 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A
RECLINING CHINESE WOMAN LENGTH 8.2 cm
Unsigned Condition: Very good condition commensurate with age and
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) handling.
Provenance: British collection.

An ivory netsuke of a reclining Chinese woman, her head resting on Literature comparison: A similar netsuke of Sugawara no Michizane
one elbow, one eye opened and the other closed. In one hand she is illustrated in the Baur collection, Marie-Therese Coullery and
holds a blossoming plum flower, suggestive of the poet and god of Martin S. Newstead, Geneve, 1977, page 173, C 418.
calligraphy Sugawara no Michizane. Beautiful yellow patina to the
backside and honey spots throughout. Large and hollow himotoshi Estimate EUR 2.500,-
on the underside. Starting price EUR 1.250,-

161 | AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A CHINESE BOY 163 | A RARE AND UNUSUAL WOOD
MANJU NETSUKE OF GENTOKU
Unsigned
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Depicting a Chinese boy dressed in a buttoned robe, the buttons
inlaid in black horn. The boy has a bewildered expression, his hand Depicted is a variation of the subject of the Chinese hero Gentoku
placed on his head and his mouth and eyes opened, the pupils (Li Bai) during his grand escape from the castle Ryu-Ho. On the
inlaid in black horn. His dress is decorated with designs of waves, front side of the manju, carved in relief, is an image of a pagoda,
signifying his foreign heritage. A detailed carving with a fine patina, surely an allusion to the castle Ryu-Ho. Around the sides, partially
especially to the backside, and large coherent himotoshi. carved in openwork all around, Gentoku is bursting forward,
sword-first, through dense waves and sprays of water. Gentoku
HEIGHT 6 cm has the appearance of Shoki the demon queller – the two are often
confused. The underside shows a brocade pattern and central
Condition: There is some himotoshi.
old damage to the left side
of the end of his robe and DIAMETER 4 cm, THICKNESS 2.2 cm
the object formerly held in
his hand is lost. Otherwise Condition: Minor nicks, surface wear, discoloration. Good, old and
fine condition with a worn condition.
stunning patina. Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Provenance: Hungarian
collection. Estimate EUR 600,-
Starting price EUR 300,-
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUR 600,-

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