Page 215 - Japanese Art Nov 9 2017 London

348

WOOD AND OTHER WORKS OF ART 348 *
Various Properties
A CARVED WOOD SUZURIBAKO (BOX FOR WRITING
346 * UTENSILS) AND COVER
Attributed to Takeda Yugetsu (died 1844), Edo period (1615-1868),
A NO MASK AND TWO KAGURA MASKS early 19th century
One attributed to Hanyu Mitsunaga, Taisho (1912-1926) Of standard rectangular form with inrobuta (flush-fitting lid), the exterior
or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th century carved in low relief with a design of two karako (Chinese boys) playing
Comprising a No mask of Yamanba (mountain hag), painted in natural with a toy flower-cart beneath a tree, against a finely carved geometric
flesh colours with black painted hair and red lips, unsigned; the first background within a raised border with floral and whirlpool motifs,
Kagura mask loosely based on the Akujo (fierce old man) No masks, the sides with shippo-zunagi (linked-jewels) designs, the base gold
typically painted in pink tones with black and white hair and gilt eyes, hirame, the other surfaces gold nashiji, the interior fitted with a partially
the chin with traces of a beard, inscribed Mitsunaga on the reverse gold-lacquered suzuri (ink-grinding stone) and a silver suiteki (water-
in an oval cartouche; the second Kagura mask patterned after the dropper) in the form of a cartwheel; with a gold-lacquered ink stick
No masks of Shintai (youthful deity), painted pink with black hair and by Yoshimatsu of Satsuma; with a wood storage box and paper slip
red lips, unsigned; each 21cm (8¼in) high; accompanied by a black- attributing the box to Takeda Yugetsu.
lacquer storage box. (4). 5.2cm x 22.3cm x 25.7cm (2in x 8¾in x 10 1/8in). (6).

£3,500 - 4,000
JPY520,000 - 590,000
US$4,600 - 5,300

The cartouche of the first Kagura mask possibly belongs to Hanyu £2,500 - 3,000
Mitsunaga 羽生光長 who was reportedly born in 1890 and worked JPY370,000 - 440,000
as a carver of Kagura masks in the Taisho and early Showa era. He US$3,300 - 4,000
usually used a different cartouche that incorporated all four characters
of his name, but this two-character cartouche has also been Takeda Yugetsu was born into a samurai family in the Himeji domain
associated with him. but came to the attention of Lord Maeda and was summoned to the
Kaga domain where he entered the saikudokoro (crafts workshop) in
347 Kanazawa; Wrangham records a an ebony netsuke of Gama Sennin
FOUR WOOD OKIMONO FIGURES and his toad, a carved wood suzuribako signed Yugetsusai, and
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century several inlaid wood inro (see E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists,
The first a seated oni, holding his ears as he tries to block out sound, Harehope, Northumberland, 1995, p.341).
his pupils inlaid, signed Itsumin to, 9.2cm (3 5/8in); the second two
revellers, one wearing a shishimai mask and cloak, the other beating
a small drum, signed Tadakazu, 7.9cm (3 1/8in); the third a pedlar
with a small boy at his side, details in lacquer, signed Minkoku, 9.2cm
(3 5/8in); the fourth a woman about to stab another as a youth sits
nonchalantly at their back, signed Chikusen, 5.7cm (2¼in). (4).

£1,000 - 1,500 FINE JAPANESE ART | 213
JPY150,000 - 220,000
US$1,300 - 2,000

For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.