Page 18 - Bonhams May 16, 2019 London Japanese Art

19 Y Ф 23
TWO BOXWOOD NETSUKE One day I will do a simple subject with only A WOOD NETSUKE OF A SEAL AND PUP
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English,
OF A LEAPING FROG AND A FISH a small amount of carving. The colour of the
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, print (on the card) does not help. Everything carved April 1994 (no.237)
the first carved in August 1993, looks brown.’ The adult and pup curled around each other,
the second carved May 1980 forming a compact composition in effectively
The first a frog with outstretched legs, its arms 21 stained wood, the eyes inlaid in horn; signed
folding over its chest forming the himotoshi, A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE on a silver tablet JC.
the eyes inlaid in horn, signed on a silver tablet By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, 6.7cm (2 5/8in) long. (2).
JC, 11.3cm (4 3/8in) long; the second a fish carved August 1992
of stained boxwood, its mouth open to reveal Carved in relief with a fast-swimming river £800 - 1,000
a set of sharp teeth, one eye left open to form otter, its eyes inlaid in horn, the reverse with a JPY120,000 - 150,000
the himotoshi with the gill, the other eye inlaid fish leaping from swirling water, the broad end US$1,000 - 1,300
in ivory, mother-of-pearl, and tortoiseshell, plugged with bone; signed on a silver tablet JC.
the teeth of stag-antler added at a later date, 10.7cm (4¼in) long. (2). Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference
signed on a silver tablet JC, card (no.237), on which he modestly states:
7.5cm (2 7/8in) long. (4). £800 - 1,000 ‘This one seemed to work as I had intended.
JPY120,000 - 150,000 I have not quite made up my mind about it!
£1,000 - 1,500 US$1,000 - 1,300 I find it rather boring and slug like, which is
JPY150,000 - 220,000 what I expected in the first place. Perhaps it
US$1,300 - 2,000 Published lacks “inspiration”. It is also rather large as
Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, vol.15,
Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference no.4, p.43, no.11. usual. I reserve judgement! The colour photo
is all brown. A bad batch this time!’
cards, the first (no.231) stating: ‘I enjoy the
form of a sashi netsuke. This particular frog Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference
should have had his hands down when in card (no.218), on which he states: ‘I partially 24
the leaping position, but “Artistic Licence” designed this about two years ago and TWO BOXWOOD NETSUKE OF A
enabled me to put them up to make a suitable discarded it as too similar to others I have HATCHING BIRD AND A FOX WITH CUBS
sashi form and at the same time provided a already carved. However it would not go away! By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English,
himotoshi as well. It should take a nice patina So I carved it, and even feel it has worked quite the first carved November 1978,
with time! It is not as all over brown as the bad well. At least it is better than the drawing (on the second carved October 1973
colour print makes it.’ the card) and needed a lot of careful decisions The first a small bird levering itself out of its
The second (no.79) stating: ‘This “elderly” rather than long carving. When I saw the speckled egg, a silver feather applied at the
fish was found on a beach at Mousehole in photograph (on the card) some months later it back with a loop cord attachment, the eyes
Cornwall. He lacks one eye which made a has a subtlty[sic] I had not fully realised. I now inlaid in amber and gold leaf, signed on a
suitable himotoshi!, and smelt strong enough think it has worked very well.’ silver tablet JC, 5cm (2in) long; the second a
to ensure that my sketch of him (on the card) seated fox, leaning forward, protecting two
was as brief as was necessary to obtain 22 Y cubs beneath its jaw, the eyes inlaid in red
enough information for a carving. The stain TWO BOXWOOD NETSUKE glass, signed on a silver tablet JC,
is rubbed away on his lower body to give a OF A WILDCAT AND A FAWN 6cm (2 3/8in) long. (2).
slight colour change. He received a new set of By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English,
deerhorn dentures in December 1990 in time the first carved September 1988, £1,000 - 1,500
for Christmas.’ The card erroneously states at the second carved April 1997 JPY150,000 - 220,000
the top that the dentures are made of ivory. The first of a seated wildcat, its head turned US$1,300 - 2,000
to the right and one forepaw resting on a
Illustrated on page 15. captured bird, the eyes inlaid in horn and Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference
tortoiseshell, signed on a silver tablet JC, cards, the first (no.69) stating: ‘The
20 4.4cm (1¾in) long; the second a fallow deer photograph (on the card) looks rather curious
A BOAR-TUSK NETSUKE fawn lying on a bed of maple leaves, its head with the egg standing on end. Its natural
By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, turned back to the left, forming a compact position would be on its side. Since I had to
carved July 1994 composition, the eyes inlaid in horn, signed on use photographs and my knowledge of young
Carved in relief with a pouncing tiger, clutching a silver tablet JC, 6cm (2 3/8in) long. (4). birds I cannot verify the authenticity of this
a branch of inlaid silver bamboo leaves in its piece though it has certain aspects which I
mouth, the reverse stippled, the broad end £1,000 - 1,500 like. I don’t like the glare of the silver eyes and
plugged with ebony; signed in a silver tablet JC. JPY150,000 - 220,000 am trying to tone them down. October 1994.
10.3cm (4 1/8in) long. (2). US$1,300 - 2,000 Removed the silver eyes and replaced them
with amber eyes backed with goldleaf[sic].
£1,000 - 1,500 Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference Also coloured the silver leaf on underside with
JPY150,000 - 220,000 cards, the first (no.151) states: ‘One of my ammonium sulphide. The colour is now blue
US$1,300 - 2,000 best carvings yet. A good piece of boxwood and copper, but will it last!’
has given it a beautiful colour. The design has The second (no.33) stating: ‘One of my
Sold together with Jack Coutu’s reference worked out very well, even the eyes. The bird favourite pieces in spite of its size, more in the
card (no.239), on which he states: ‘This was a is a reed bunting and the wood has polished nature of an okimono. Probably the most time
smallish tusk, but reasonably thick and allowed well and should take a good patina with time.’ consuming piece I have carved and perhaps
fairly deep carving at the open end. However, The second card (no.269) states: ‘I placed rather a “frontal view” piece with various
halfway through the carving it developed a split the fawn on a bed of leave[sic] to create extra imperfections but worth the effort. It was
about an inch long down the centre. Instead interest. It turned out rather large once again taken from a photograph taken at night and
of scrapping it I covered the crack with a piece but felt right. It may suit a sumo-wrestler but the red eyes seemed appropriate.’
of silver bamboo, hence the curious subject would look ridiculous on a small inro. It has
matter! I feel that the piece is rather full and some good points. Perhaps it needs a little
overworked, as usual, but this is inevitable. wear and time to soften it.’
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
16 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.