Page 76 - Fine Japanese Art Auction November 2 2019 Galerie Zacke

87 | TOMOKAZU: WOOD NETSUKE
OF A COCKEREL ON A BRANCH
Inscribed Tomokazu
Japan, late 19th to 20th century

A long-tailed cockerel (tori), also known as onagadori, on a
branch with its head tilted to the left, lending movement to the
composition. The plumage of the cockerel is pronounced, the long
tail forms an elegant curve. Inlaid eyes. Signature TOMOKAZU Ƥ
Ă on the branch. Himotoshi through the underside. The netsuke is
finished with a thin layer of plain lacquer.

HEIGHT 4 cm
Condition: Very good and complete condition.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
The cockerel (tori) or rooster is the tenth animal in the zodiac and a
symbol of potency and power.
Estimate EUR 800,-
Starting price EUR 400,-

86 | A VERY RARE MOTHER OF PEARL
NETSUKE OF FUKURA SUZUME
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Carved from a piece of shimmering mother of pearl and depicting
a suzume (sparrow) with large and red inlaid eyes. The sparrow has
a puffy body with carved plumage on its back, short stubby wings
with incised featherwork and short upright tail feathers. This type
is called fukura suzume, was deemed lucky and was also a popular
children’s toy. Large, generous himotoshi through the underiside.
Mother of pearl katabori netsuke of this quality are extremely rare. 88 | A RARE AND GIGANTIC ACTOR’S WOOD
NETSUKE OF A NIO WITH WARAJI
HEIGHT 2 cm, LENGTH 3.2 cm
Unsigned
Condition: Very good condition. Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
Estimate EUR 2.000,- A very large wood netsuke depicting a Nio with a huge waraji
Starting price EUR 1.000,- strapped to his back. The expression of the guardian king is quite
amusing, as he struggles to carry the gigantic waraji on his back.
Due to the size of this netsuke, it is either a netsuke for a sumo
wrestler or for an actor, used in a performance as a prop. Large
himotoshi through the back.

HEIGHT 12.7 cm, WIDTH 6 cm (!)
Condition: Good condition. Minor surface scratches and
imperfections. One crack by the side of the neck.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.
Nio are athletic temple guardians, whose sculptures are seen by
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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,-

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