Page 44 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

41 | KINRYUSAI: AN IVORY NETSUKE 43 | A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF RAIJIN
OF KAN’U BEING MASSAGED
BY A BLIND MAN Unsigned
Japan, probably Gifu, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
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Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A well-carved wood netsuke of a wide-eyed and grinning Raijin
shown resting his hands on a pair of geta – a classic attribute since
The Chinese general Kan’U (in Chinese Guan Yu), also known the geta are also associated with rainy weather. The thunder god
as the god of war, is leaning on a table with one knee and has his drum, which he uses to create thunder, strapped to his
KROGLQJ KLV EHDUG ZLWK D VWHUQ IDFHG H[SUHVVLRQ %HKLQG KLP LV back. The eyes and horns are inlaid in ivory. He is seated crossing
a blind man giving him a massage, holding his arm and working his legs and wearing a tiger skin loincloth, typical for devils (oni).
on it with his elbow. A large pot with a coral branch is carved Good himotoshi through the under- and backside.
behind them. Cleverly placed himotoshi through the table and
backside of Kan’U. The manner of carving and staining is very HEIGHT 3.3 cm
much in the manner of the Tomochika school of Edo. Signed
and sealed on the underside of the table KINRYUSAI ඁȸ᤮. Condition: The
netsuke has been
HEIGHT 4.1 cm reattached at the mid-
section. Otherwise
Condition: Very good condition. good condition.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection. Provenance: The
Gabor Wilhelm
Estimate EUR 1.000,- Collection.
Starting price EUR 500,-
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

44 | HO RAKUMIN: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE
42 | OKURA: A RARE IVORY OF JIZO WRESTLING AN ONI
NETSUKE OF KANNINBUKURO
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%\ 2JXUD 7RPR\XNL VLJQHG 2NXUD Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-
1868) Published: Lazarnick, George, Netsuke and Inro Artists, Honolulu
1982, p. 473.
Published: Karl M. Schwarz, Netsuke Subjects,
1992, no. 239.
A fine ivory netsuke of Jizo, wearing earrings and naked except for
a loincloth, wrestling with an oni on top of a lotus leaf. Jizo holds
A rare depiction of Kanninbukuro (the sack of on to the oni’s tiger-skin loincloth with both hands, while the little
patience) which relates to the amount of patience devil, confidently smiling, has one hand over the monk’s shoulder
one has to muster from being insulted and and another supporting himself on the leaf. Finely carved details,
offended and tying this up in an invisible bag. especially of the individual facial expressions, and finely stained – a
This is represented in this netsuke by a kneeling prime example from this important Edo artist, perhaps only rivalled
old man, visibly strained, tying up a huge bag by his contemporary Hojitsu. The underside with the veiny structure
in front of him, inscribed in the front ‘Kannin’ of the lotus leaf and a central himotoshi, as well as the signature
(patience). One fears the bag is about to burst neatly inlaid with a gold tablet HO RAKUMIN ǐΦ with kao.
and one more drop may be too much for him too
bear. Finely stained and carved details. Himotoshi HEIGHT 2.3 cm, LENGTH 3.6 cm
on the underside and signature in a wavy
reserve OKURA Ň๦, for Ogura Tomoyuki, and Condition: Very good condition. The nick on the lotus leaf is
considering the style most likely of the Tomochika intended.
school. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
HEIGTH 4.3 cm -L]R LV D %RGGKLVDWWYD SDWURQ RI GHFHDVHG FKLOGUHQ DQG KDV WKH
ability to open the gates of hell – typically amusing of the netsuke
Condition: Good condition, the himotoshi shows carver to show him wrestling with an oni.
some wear.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Literature comparison: For a similar netsuke signed Rakumin see F.
previously collection Karl. M Schwarz. Meinertzhagen, MCI Part A, New York, 1986, page 160.
Estimate EUR 1.200,- Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 600,- Starting price EUR 1.500,-

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