Page 14 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Japanese Art

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A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.326), on which
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved March 2002 he states: ‘My last boars[sic] tusk and a very thin one. I succeeded in
Carved in relief with a vampire bat, a cluster of mushrooms to its left, cleaning one surface completely without breaking right through but
the reverse engraved with grasses, the broad end plugged with a had to use low relief work for safety. The idea of a woodland in flames
stippled black lacquered plug; signed on a silver tablet JC. is not too clear but gives a little more vitality to the plug end. The eye
11.6cm (4 5/8in) long. (2). could have been brighter but looks better in different lights.’
£800 - 1,000 14
JPY120,000 - 150,000 TWO STAG-ANTLER NETSUKE OF A WEREWOLF
US$1,000 - 1,300 AND A DRAGONFISH
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, the first carved August 1999,
Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.310), on which he the second carved June 1992
modestly states: ‘Another bat. Not too exciting and rather a struggle. The first a werewolf standing, snarling while drawing out its robe with
Life is catching up!’ one hand, its feet overlapping, the antler stippled for effect, the eyes
inlaid in horn, signed on a silver tablet JC, 15.6cm (6 1/8in) long; the
second a dragonfish swimming with raised head and curled tail, the
12 eyes inlaid in horn backed by foil, signed on a silver tablet JC,
A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE 15.2cm (6in) long. (4).
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved February/March 1998
Carved in relief, the tusk forming the leaf, the buff-tip moth laying a
cluster of eggs on the leaf, the eggs inlaid in dark horn; signed on a £1,000 - 1,500
silver tablet JC. JPY150,000 - 220,000
11cm (4 3/8in) long. (2). US$1,300 - 2,000

£800 - 1,000 Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference cards, the first (no.294)
JPY120,000 - 150,000 stating: ‘A rather large and strange sashi-netsuke. I did some doodles in
US$1,000 - 1,300 the general shape of the pieces of antler, mostly on a figure theme but
they all seemed rather boring. I then came upon a Werewolf item and
drew the head. The hands seemed to have little legendary significance
Published but the tension created the feeling I wanted so I carved it. Dare I say I
Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, vol.15, no.4, p.42, no.7. was pleased with it? He even stands up! Deer antler takes a beautiful
colour and polish and to me has more colour-expression than ivory.
Sold with Jack Coutu’s reference card (no.141), on which he states: Even its limitations help with the expression of the idea.’
‘The print (on the card) is not as clear as it might be. I enjoyed the The second (no.215) stating: ‘The deerhorn has a nice colour, the scales
carving of this one and exploited the tusk shape to form a leaf, instead look rather coarse, the material is difficult to cut cleanly but perhaps the
of simply using the tusk shape as a background. The eggs were the blame is mine. The eyes are either horn or blond tortoiseshell I think,
tricky piece both to carve and inlay.’ though they look more like amber. My memory fails me!’

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A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, carved April/May 2006
Carved in relief, a squirrel leaping with its forelegs outstretched,
reaching for a pinecone as flames begin to consume its lower body,
its eye inlaid in horn, the broad end plugged with ebony;
signed on a silver tablet JC.
9.5cm (3¾in) long. (2).

£800 - 1,000
JPY120,000 - 150,000
US$1,000 - 1,300

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