Page 68 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

74 | A BRILLIANT STAG ANTLER RYUSA MANJU
NETSUKE WITH FLOWERS AND WEAVE
Unsigned
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, mid to late 19th century

A brilliantly hollowed-out and carved Asakusa-school stag antler
ryusa-manju showing a chrysanthemum (kiku) blossom in the
front. From the petals extend threads which are intricately ‘woven’
together, seemingly held together by a concentric band on the side
– though the entire composition is carved! These threads lead to
the other side and lie above a stylized flower incredibly made from
an entirely porous and deep black section of the antler. One of
the himotoshi forms the central part of the stylized flower, and the
second larger oval himotoshi is just beneath. The use of material in
this netsuke is unparalleled.
DIAMETER 4.4 cm, THICKNESS 2 cm

Condition: Superb condition.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
Estimate EUR 3.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.500,-

75 | KOHOSAI: AN EXCELLENT IVORY AND GOLD
NETSUKE OF A FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUM

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Japan, Osaka, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Finely carved as a flowering chrysanthemum, the petals carved
naturalistically and overlapping each other. The central section is
inlaid in gold, finely carved to resemble layers of pollen, cleverly
serving as the removable cord attachment through the central
himotoshi in the back. Signed KOHOSAI ȓ஥᤮ in partially erased
characters.
DIAMETER 4.3 cm
Condition: Very good condition. There used to be a metal ring
around the himotoshi in the back, which is now lost.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.

Ueda Kohosai was a member of the Osaka school and probably
close to Dosho(Sai) and Tetsugendu Kyusai, who carved similar
flowers.
Literature comparison: For two further floral compositions by the
artist see F. Meinertzhagen, MCI Part A, New York, 1986, page 356.
Auction comparison: For a similar netsuke by Tetsguendo Kyusai
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Netsuke, 10 May 2017, London, lot 189.
Estimate EUR 2.000,-
Starting price EUR 1.000,-

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