Page 46 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

47 | GYOKURIN: AN AMUSING WOOD
NETSUKE OF RAIJIN WITH RAITARO
%\ *\RNXULQ VLJQHG *\RNXULQ
Japan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Lazarnick, George, Netsuke and Inro Artists, Honolulu
1982, p. 426.

The thunder god Raijin is depicted as a muscular oni, with long
curly hair and wearing a thin loincloth, tightly curled into a ball and
holding his knees as if he was rocking back and forth in agony.
His expression is amusing, completely worn out and stressed, as
his son Raitaro is mischievously grinning and banging on his back,
trying to gain his attention. Raijin is often caricaturized in netsuke
art, and in the present netsuke he is shown as the worn-out father
– the powerful thunder god dejected by something very humanly,
45 | TOMOTAKA: AN IVORY NETSUKE OF one does feel for this poor deity…The carving is sublime, bold
TWO ARM WRESTLING NIO ON A WARAJI and powerful, and the patina is superb, smooth and shimmering
and worn in all the right places. Large himotoshi through Raijin’s
%\ 7RPRWDND VLJQHG 7RPRWDND buttocks. Signed underneath the right foot GYOKURIN ৿ڄ.
Japan, Edo, ca. 1860, Edo period (1615-1868)
HEIGHT 4.2 cm, LENGTH 4.4 cm
An Edo-school ivory netsuke depicting two Nio, their eyes inlaid Condition: Very good condition with excellent patina.
with black horn, engaged in the sport of udezumo (arm wrestling), Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
on top of a giant waraji (sandal). The netsuke is an emblem of
endurance and strength. Finely carved details and very good Estimate EUR 2.500,-
staining. Signature TOMOTAKA ƤƬ in a wavy reserve on the Starting price EUR 1.250,-
underside above a central himotoshi. Tomochika school.

LENGTH 5.2 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, two very faint age cracks.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
Nio are athletic temple guardians, whose sculptures are seen by
WKH HQWUDQFH JDWHV RI %XGGKLVW WHPSOHV ΖW ZDV WKRXJKW WKDW RIIHULQJ
a sandal to their sculptures would heal the exhausted feet from the
long pilgrimages to the temples.
Estimate EUR 1.500,-
Starting price EUR 750,-

46 | A WOOD NETSUKE
OF TWO WRESTLERS

Unsigned
-DSDQ HDUO\ WKbFHQWXU\ (GR SHULRGb

Carved from cherry wood and lightly stained depicting two
wrestlers on their knees trying to grab each other by the belt with
one hand, performing ottsuke (arm-clamp down), the other hand
SUHYHQWLQJ WKH FRXQWHUSDUW IURP UHDFKLQJ WKH EHOW %RWK IDFLDO
expressions are quite amusing. The underside further underlines
their symmetrical movement, showing four chubby legs divided by
a central himotoshi.
HEIGHT 5.2 cm

Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
Estimate EUR 1.200,-
Starting price EUR 600,-

42 43