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MINKOKU: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF YAMA-UBA AND KINTAROBy Shuyusai Minkoku (Minkoku III), signed Minkoku 民谷Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022), The Gabor and Georgina Wilhelm Collection, p. 42, no. 61.The mountain witch Yama-uba depicted here in a youthful manner, wearing a loosely fitted leaf cloak, opening at the chest, supporting Kintaro on her back, while the strong boy pulls on her hair, causing her visible discomfort, the other hand pulling on the leg of a minutely carved baby boar which tries to escape Kintoki's clutches. The details are masterfully carved, particularly the expressions are lifelike and animated. Large himotoshi through the back, the signature located on the hem of the robe within a rectangular reserve MINKOKU.HEIGHT 5.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Kintaro (also known as the "Golden Boy") is a folk hero from Japanese folklore. A child of superhuman strength, he was raised by Yama-uba on Mount Ashigara. Later he became a loyal follower of Minamoto no Yorimitsu under the new name Sakata no Kintoki. In his youth he was known to wrestle various animals from the mountain and was reputed to be able to lift a baby boar as an infant.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511178-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

IKKOSAI: AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE IVORY NETSUKE OF IDATEN CAPTURING AN ONIBy Ikkosai Toun, signed Ikkosai 一光齋Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: International Netsuke Society Journal (Spring 2019) Vol. 39, no. 3, p. 21, fig. 5.Sagemonoya (2022), The Gabor and Georgina Wilhelm Collection, p. 36, no. 52.A remarkably powerful and superbly carved, tall ivory netsuke of Idaten, protector of monasteries and monks, dressed in full Tang Chinese armor, carrying a sheathed sword on his back, capturing the oni shoshitsuki who has stolen a Buddhist reliquary containing one of Buddha's teeth, the protective deity grabbing the oni's mouth and forcefully removing the stolen tooth. The lightly stained ivory is carved with incredible detail – note the finely incised beard of Idaten and the hair of the oni, the various incised patterns to the armor, and the billowing celestial scarves which move seamlessly around the composition. The signature is located within an oval reserve IKKOSAI between the two himotoshi.HEIGHT 8.8 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear and only very few natural age cracks. Fine patina.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.This carver Ikkosai, who also used the art name Toun, was likely a direct pupil of Ikkosai Saito Itaro, who also treated this rare subject. Considering the quality and size, the present netsuke has to be regarded as the figural masterpiece of this school. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511105-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

IKKOSAI: AN AMUSING IVORY SHUNGA NETSUKE OF DAIKOKU AND EBISUBy Ikkosai Saito Itaro, signed Ikkosai 一光斎Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A compact and intricately carved ivory netsuke depicting Daikoku and Ebisu, the latter hunched over a two-pronged daikon (radish) and the former fondling the vegetable, both laughing mischievously at its phallic appearance. Daikoku's rats are also present in this charming carving, one is scurrying underneath the lucky god, looking up at him, and the other is found on top of a basket carved with human-faced handles. The lightly stained ivory bearing a fine patina. Himotoshi through the basket and signed underneath within the typical oval reserve IKKOSAI.LENGTH 3.9 cmCondition: Good condition with minor surface wear. One of the daikon leaves with a chip.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.For a discussion of the artist, see International Netsuke Society Journal (Spring 2019) Vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 13-20.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 23-B-0013).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

IKKOSAI: AN AMUSING IVORY NETSUKE OF GAMA, CHOKARO, AND TEKKAI SENNINBy Ikkosai Saito Itaro, signed Ikkosai 一光斎Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)An amusing and rather unusual group of three sennin huddled together as they watch Gama's toad riding on Chokaro's horse on top of a scroll. All three sennin are laughing as Tekkai points at the toad in disbelief, while Gama screams out in laughter while pulling on the horse's tail. Chokaro in the back is shown holding his enchanted hyotan (double gourd), tucking it away after releasing the horse. The ivory is lightly stained, as is typical for the artist, and the details are finely carved and embellished with sumi (ink). Himotoshi through the back and underside, the signature underneath located in the typical oval reserve IKKOSAI.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear and few natural age cracks.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related ivory netsuke, by Ikkosai, illustrated in Coullery, Marie-Therese and Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, pp. 92-93, no. C 144. For a discussion of the artist, see International Netsuke Society Journal (Spring 2019) Vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 13-20.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

GYOKKOSAI: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF JUROJIN HOLDING A SCROLL By Gyokkosai, signed Gyokkosai 玉光齋Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved, the ivory lightly stained and beautifully polished, depicting Jurojin wearing a large cowl draped over his elongated head, laughing jovially, his face framed by a neatly incised beard and pendulous earlobes, holding a scroll before him. The lucky god's loosely fitted robe is minutely incised with scrolling vines and his long sleeves are draping towards the ground. Two himotoshi to the back and signed GYOKKOSAI.HEIGHT 4.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear.Provenance: French private collection, purchased from Galerie Yamato, Paris, 2004.Gyokkosai was an accomplished student of Ikkosai Saito Itaro, for a discussion of his work see the International Netsuke Society Journal (Spring 2019) Vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 18-20.Auction comparison:A closely related ivory netsuke, by Gyokkosai, was sold by Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 180 (sold for 6,320 EUR). Another closely related netsuke, carved from wood, by Hojitsu, was sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 98 (sold for 5,056 EUR). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207508204-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

A POWERFUL TALL IVORY NETSUKE OF A TARTAR ARCHERUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022), The Gabor and Georgina Wilhelm Collection, p. 10, no. 5.The Mongolian archer standing tall, wearing a typical conical hat, his robes engraved with ornate cloud and wave designs, his mouth agape as he faces to the left, drawing his bow and preparing to shoot his readied arrow. The reverse shows the finely carved quiver with further elaborate designs and the large and generously excavated himotoshi. Superb, deep honey patina.HEIGHT 9.2 cmCondition: Restoration to one foot. Few natural age cracks and minor wear to sumi-stained details. Overall good condition.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Auction comparison:Compare with a closely related ivory netsuke at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 12 May 2016, lot 245 (part lot, sold for 4,375 GBP).Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511135-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

RYOJI: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A SAMBASO DANCERBy Ono Ryoji, signed Ryoji 凌次Japan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryWell carved as a sambaso dancer standing on his right foot, wearing a characteristic striped eboshi with roundels, his voluminous robe neatly incised with pine saplings, leafy chrysanthemum sprays, and a foliate design. He holds a bell tree with cords attached in his right hand. The ivory bearing a subtle stain and fine polish. The back of his robe with two himotoshi. Signed to the underside above his right foot RYOJI.HEIGHT 4.9 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam.Auction comparison:Compare to a related ivory netsuke of a sambaso dancer, with movable tongue, by Rakumin, at Zacke, Asian Art Discoveries, 20 January 2023, Vienna, lot 1408 (sold for 2,340 EUR).Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207506036-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

JUGYOKU: A FINE IVORY MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING A SCENE FROM THE KYOGEN PLAY TSURIGITSUNEBy Ryukosai Jugyoku, signed Jugyoku 壽玉Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of circular form, the two-part manju finely stained and carved to one side in shishiaibori (sunken relief) with Hakuzosu holding a fox mask in his right and a staff in his left hand, to his right the fox hunter kneeling, cleverly carved in high relief to give a three-dimensional feel to the scene. The reverse engraved with a fox trap below the central himotoshi and signed JUGYOKU.The combination of the techniques of sunken and high relief is quite rare and cleverly utilized here as it ties into the subject matter of the manju, as the sly fox is depicted in the background, almost lurking in the shadows.DIAMETER 4.9 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor surface wear.Provenance: Collection Gabor Orszagh, Budapest, Hungary.The manju depicts a scene from the Kyogen play Tsurigitsune ('Fox trapping'), in which a fox hunter is visited by his uncle, the priest Hakuzosu, who lectures his nephew on the evils of killing foxes. The hunter is nearly convinced, but after the priest departs, he hears the cry of the fox and realizes it wasn't his uncle at all but a fox in disguise. The fox resumes his natural form and reverts to his wild ways, takes the bait in a trap, and is captured by the fox hunter.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 22-B-0497).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

KIKUGAWA: A LARGE IVORY MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING THE WISTERIA MAIDEN (FUJI MUSUME) AND A REPENTANT ONI (ONI NO NENBUTSU)By a member of the Kikugawa family, signed Kikugawa 菊川 with seal Tomoe 巴Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Finely carved in shishiaibori with Fujihime holding a trailing branch of wisteria, wearing intricately patterned robes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gilt-metal, coral, and stained bone, looking coquettishly towards the repentant oni, who shows a hesitant expression, biting one of his fingers, the gesture akin to a fish hook, a gong and inscribed donation ledger tied around his neck, a parasol around his back. The reverse incised and stippled with two sheets of paper bearing an outline of ash-stenciled oni, fitted in the center with a silver loop finial attached with a flap with gold takazogan and carved in katakiri and kebori with flames, clouds, and a waterfall, and signed KIKUGAWA with a red seal tomoe.DIAMETER 6.6 cmCondition: Good condition, minor wear, natural age cracks, few losses to inlays.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number 22NL306099/20).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

ITTO: A RARE OBIDOME-FORM IVORY NETSUKE OF A WRITHING RAIN DRAGON By Itto, signed Itto 一東Japan, Nagasaki, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Finely carved in openwork, the netsuke of obidome form, yet also able to stand with the body and signed claw forming the base. The four-clawed, two-horned rain dragon with a sinuously writhing body carved with flickering flames, densely arranged scales, and neatly incised mane, further detailed with almost hand-like claws and a long baku-like snout. Several natural himotoshi due to the openwork. One paw carved with a raised oblong reserve incised with the signature ITTO – the artist was born in Kyoto but studied sculpture in Nagasaki.HEIGHT 6.3 cmCondition: Very good condition, microscopic nibbling to edges. Provenance: Ex-collection Étienne de Villaret, Paris. With an old handwritten and illustrated description of the present netsuke by the previous owner.Literature comparison: Compare a walrus ivory obidome manju depicting a rain dragon, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 380-381, no. 561.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207510849-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

HOKOKU: A SHIBAYAMA-INLAID IVORY NETSUKE DEPICTING DAIKOKUBy Hokoku, signed Hokoku 峯谷 Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)The netsuke formed as Daikoku's treasure bag slung over the lucky god's back, Daikoku with a cheerful expression and pointing at a small rat which has escaped from the bag along with two coins, the reverse with Daikoku's hammer with a tasseled cord, all detailed with subtle incision work and finely inlaid in the Shibayama style with mother-of-pearl, lacquer, bone, wood, gilt metal, silver, pewter, and hardstone.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, fine age cracks, few light scratches.Museum comparison:Compare a closely related inlaid ivory netsuke by Hokoku in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 10.211.116.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number 22NL306306/20). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

A RARE SHIBAYAMA-INLAID WOOD NETSUKE OF A CAPARISONED ELEPHANTUnsigned Japan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryFinely carved with a caparisoned elephant standing foursquare on a quadrilobed oval base, the animal well detailed with narrowed eyes, a long curled trunk, curved tusks, long ears, and subtly carved wrinkles, the saddlecloth incised with a peony design within a cross-hatched border, suspending beads inlaid with coral and pale horn, the elephant's forehead similarly decorated with coral and pale beads surrounding a larger central jewel in mother-of-pearl, the base with a central ojime.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear.The subject of the present netsuke with Shibayama inlay is considerably rarer in wood than it is in ivory. Auction comparison: Compare a related inlaid ivory netsuke, signed Shibayama, 4.2 cm long, dated late 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 189 (sold for 3,792 EUR).

A LARGE AND RARE IVORY TOBORI NETSUKE OF A MYTHICAL BEASTUnsignedJapan, 17th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 44, no. 64.Boldly carved as a one-horned mythical beast standing foursquare atop a shaped base, its long tail furcated in neatly incised scrolling strands with one swept up to its side, the feet with further 'winged swirls', its mane and beard boldly carved with further curls. The ivory bearing a superb, deep honey-brown patina. HEIGHT 6.5 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, expected age cracks, many losses and chips, most which have smoothened over time.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.While Gabor Wilhelm suggests the mythical being can be identified as a kaichi (xiezhi), a divine beast from Chinese mythology which symbolizes justice and fairness, the mythical creature is rather difficult to positively identify as it also shares characteristics with a kirin and a luduan.These type of tobori (Chinese carvings) belong to earliest type of netsuke known. They were either carved in China and re-purposed as netsuke in Japan or carved in Japan using Chinese source materials.Auction comparison: Compare a Chinese ivory seal with a mythical beast finial at Bonhams, 21 December 2011, San Francisco, lot 8549 (sold for 6,875 USD). Compare an ivory seal netsuke of a hakutaku at Bonhams, 15 May 2014, London, lot 14 (sold for 7,500 GBP).Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511128-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

AN UNUSUAL WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING KINKO SENNIN WITH A BRUSH AND FISHUnsigned Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The immortal Qin Gao standing and holding a fish with horn-inlaid eyes and an inlaid brush in his hands, his elegant Chinese robes flowing with finely carved and darkly stained folds, his expressively carved face with a cheerful expression, the mouth wide open, his hair and long chin beard neatly incised, the back with two asymmetrical himotoshi, the larger of which is generously excavated to accommodate the knot.HEIGHT 8.1 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.The present netsuke is unusual as Kinko Sennin is usually depicted seated atop a giant fish. The Daoist sage spent the first 200 years of his life painting fish and would never harm or eat them out of respect. He was invited by the Dragon King to be his guest, so Kinko told his students he would return and rode the fish under the water into the river kingdom. Upon returning he meet Kannon, who gave him a scroll teaching the Buddhist way of protecting all life.

A LARGE WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING THE STORY OF SHIBA ONKOUnsignedJapan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A large and remarkably earthy wood netsuke depicting the famous story of Shiba Onko. The composition is set on a large, shaped base and is carved with a large jar in the center from which a stream of water, inlaid with silver dew drops. flows outwards, a small boy emerging from the cracked pot amongst the water. Shiba Onko and his companions are carved around the jar, watching the events unfold, two of the heads are inlaid in stained bone with dark horn tufts of hair and all eyes are inlaid in dark horn as well. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi through the underside. The wood bearing a superb, dark patina.HEIGHT 3.6 cm, LENGTH 5.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear and a superb patina.The manner of inlay on the present netsuke is reminiscent of Kanjuro, who is mentioned in the Soken Kisho of 1781.Shiba Onko (Chian/Sima Qian in Chinese) was a famous statesman and historian of the Han Dynasty. This is an episode linked to his childhood, when it was said that Shiba Onko and his companions were watching fish in a huge jar when one of them fell in but whilst the rest of his playmates ran away shrieking, leaving the child to drown, Shiba Onko used a rock to break the jar to drain out the water and set his companion free. This episode was a popular theme among Edo-period artists as a parable of virtuous behavior.

HIDEYUKI: A RARE IVORY AND LACQUER NETSUKE OF BATHING SKELETONSBy Hideyuki, signed Hideyuki 秀之Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)A rare ivory netsuke depicting a skeleton sitting in a contemplative pose inside a small silver-lacquered tub, a washing rag in its hand, another skeleton seated behind and washing his companion's back. The underside carved with a lotus leaf, two asymmetrical himotoshi, the smaller one florally rimmed, and the signature HIDEYUKI within an aogai inlaid plaque. The artist favored skulls and skeletons as a subject and usually signed within an inlaid aogai plaque. The present composition is quite unusual and possibly unique for the artist.LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2200600397-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

SHOUNSAI: AN EXCELLENT AND RARE WOOD AND IVORY NETSUKE OF DARUMABy Shounsai Joryu, signed Shounsai 升雲齋Japan, Edo (Tokyo), early 19th century, Edo period (1868-1912)Published: Illustrated in F. Meinertzhagen, MCI Part A, New York, 1986, page 263.Depicting the Zen patriarch Daruma with a pensive expression. Daruma is almost entirely covered in a priestly robe flowing in the wind, carved from wood with a stunning patina and grain. His face and bare torso are inlaid in ivory, with incised beard and chest hair, and his facial features are crafted very well. Daruma was of either Persian, central Asian or south Indian descent, which is reflected in this netsuke – making it a rare portrait of this important and historical Buddhist monk, who is often caricaturized in netsuke art. His sandaled feet and the thin reed which he floats on are also carved from a single piece of ivory. The backside with good himotoshi above the signature SHOUNSAI.HEIGHT 6.3 cmCondition: Very good condition.Provenance: Anonymous sale, Glendining, 31st May 1935, then Jay Hopkins and hence British collection.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number 22NL305882/20). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

JUJO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF HARE IN BOAT, KACHI-KACHI YAMABy Jujo (Toshinori), signed Jujo 壽乗 and kakihanJapan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryPublished: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 280.Depicting a hare nestled inside a boat, one paw grabbing an oar and propelling itself along the waves which are carved to the side of the boat. The details are superbly carved and finished, the wood bearing a good polish. Large himotoshi to the underside and signed JUJO and kakihan. The artist was a pupil of Ryukosai Jugyoku.LENGTH 3.6 cmCondition: Excellent condition.The netsuke references a scene from the Kachi-kachi Yama folktale when a tanuki challenged a rabbit to a life and death contest to prove who was the better creature. They were each to build a boat and race across a lake. The rabbit carved its boat out of a fallen tree trunk, but the foolish tanuki made a boat of mud. At first, the two competitors were evenly matched, but the badger's mud boat began to dissolve in the middle of the lake and instead of saving the badger, the rabbit strikes him with an oar, and proclaimed his friendship with the innocent human couple whom the wicked tanuki had earlier inflicted upon its horrible deeds - thus revealing his revenge.Museum comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke depicting the same subject, by Jugyoku, in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, accession no. 11.23273.

JUGYOKU: A FINE INLAID WOOD NETSUKE OF BENKEI INSIDE HORAGAI By Ryukosai Jugyoku, signed Jugyoku 壽玉Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The hero Benkei nestled within a large horagai conch, wearing traditional yamabushi garments and a tokin cap, embellished with inlays of bone and ebony, holding prayer beads, one of the beads inlaid in coral. The expression with minutely inlaid eyes is expertly crafted and the surface of the conch is naturalistically rendered with ridged and polished areas. Large himotoshi, the smaller hole rimmed with ebony wood in the form of floral medallion and signed within an inlaid ebony plaque JUGYOKU – the artist was a master of combining various materials.LENGTH 5.7 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor expected surface wear and traces of use, some light surface scratches and age cracks.The yamabushi were renegade mountain priests of the Shingon Tantric Buddhist sect, who used the conch to communicate their movements in the mountain wilderness.

JUGYOKU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A CICADABy Ryukosai Jugyoku, signed Jugyoku 壽玉 with kakihanJapan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely and naturalistically carved as a cicada, its wings with neatly detailed veins, the underside with further realistic details such as the limbs which are kept close to the body for compactness. Large himotoshi underneath, the larger hole generously excavated to accommodate the knot and signed under the left wing within a neatly inlaid plaque JUGYOKU and kakihan.LENGTH 5.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Literature comparison:For an ivory netsuke of a cicada on a leaf, by Jugyoku, see Harris, Victor (1987) The Hull Grundy Collection in the British Museum, p. 93, no. 457.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

A RARE TOKYO SCHOOL COROZO NUT AND STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A FROG INSIDE A CHRYSANTHEMUMUnsignedJapan, Edo (Tokyo), mid to late 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Deeply stained to resemble wood, the chrysanthemum finely carved with neatly incised individual petals, the hollowed section in the center inlaid with a green-stained frog carved from stag antler. The underside shows the curved stem which forms the cord attachment.The carving can be attributed to circle of hands around Jugyoku, Ryukei, Gyokko, and Gyokkei who excelled in carving netsuke from exotic materials and often used green-stained antler to embellish their carvings.LENGTH 4.1 cmCondition: Excellent condition with natural flaws to the material.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:Compare to a wood netsuke with similar green-stained inlay, by Jugyoku, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 149 (sold for 4,812 GBP). Also compare to a corozo nut netsuke by Gyokkei, with a green-stained antler signature plaque, erroneously described as wood, at Gros-Delettrez, Art D' Asie, 7 December 2021, Paris, lot 20 (sold for 3,000 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A FISHERMAN CARRYING A BOY, ATTRIBUTED TO GECHUAttributed to Gechu, unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 31, no. 45.Exquisitely carved as a fisherman clad only in a leafy skirt, carved in elegantly flowing, neatly incised strands, standing on one foot in a dynamic pose, carrying a small boy on his back, the child wearing a short robe and holding on to his father's beard and head. Both father and son show elated expressions as they are clearly having a lot of fun in this joyful moment, although the fisherman must be in pain as the boy tugs on his long chin beard. The fisherman with the mouth wide open, showing tongue and teeth, and large eyes inlaid with dark horn. One of the strands of the straw skirt forms the cord attachment. The ivory with a superb, rich, honey-yellow patina. HEIGHT 8 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, minor age cracks, the fisherman's left foot restored.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Gechu is a somewhat enigmatic carver of netsuke, in that little is known of him, including his residence. For many years he has been thought to have lived in Osaka, mainly based upon the similarity of his work to that of Risuke Garaku of that city. Recently it has been suggested by Alain Ducros that he may well have been domiciled in Satsuma Province on the island of Kyushu, see Ducros, Alain (Summer 2016) Satsuma Ivory Netsuke, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 20-29. This type of netsuke is typically unsigned but can be confidently attributed to Gechu, or at the very least a close follower. Note the dynamism of the carving and the excellent facial expression marked by characteristically large inlaid eyes, which is quite unique and gives the face a foreign if not otherworldly appearance.Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke by Gechu of a sennin with similarly large inlaid eyes, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. I, p. 399.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207509550-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

GYOKUZAN: A MASTERFUL MINIATURE WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLINDMAN BEING TRAPPED BY A CLAMBy Gyokuzan, signed Gyokuzan 玉山Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Eskenazi (1997) Japanese Netsuke, Ojime and Inro from the Dawson Collection, pp. 30-31, no. 41.Exquisitely carved, the blindman with a distinct bump on his head, one eye closed and one eye opened, the tiny pupil minutely inlaid in dark horn, clambering over a giant clam and struggling with all his might to pull his fundoshi from the jaws of the bivalve. The subject references, quite humorously, a parody of the seduction of feminine wiles, the clam representing the female here. The expression of the man is masterfully crafted with incredible detail, which holds up even to extreme magnification. The well-toned wood bearing a good patina. The underside with florally rimmed himotoshi and signature GYOKUZAN and kakihan.HEIGHT 2.9 cm, LENGTH 2.7 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Provenance: Ex-collection Irene Segeler, Zurich, acquired from Eskenazi Ltd., London, in 1997. Irene Segeler specialized in collecting tiny children's netsuke, acquiring over 80 examples, which is quite remarkable as they are exceptionally rare. A few pieces from her collection are illustrated in Children's Netsuke (2001), The International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 26-30.

NAOYUKI: AN EXQUISITE MINIATURE WOOD NETSUKE OF A NIO CUTTING THROUGH A GIGANTIC GOURDBy Naoyuki, signed Naoyuki 直雪 and kakihanJapan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A minutely carved Nio, measuring only 0.7 cm, with remarkably well-carved features is shown testing his strength by cutting through a gigantic gourd with a saw. The well-toned wood of an attractive color, a small Chinese table carved next to the gourd. One himotoshi through the underside, the other going through under the table. Signed NAOYUKI with kakihan.HEIGHT 2.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear.

TOSAI: AN EXQUISITE MINIATURE BAMBOO NETSUKE OF MONJU BOSATSUBy Tosai, signed Tosai 東采Japan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryA truly miniature-sized carving, likely intended as a gift for a child, the protective deity seated on a shishi and holding a scroll. The boddhisattva is dressed in a voluminous robe with billowing scarves, the details such as her urna and the shishi's eyes and fangs are inlaid in dark horn or wood. The underside shows two ringed himotoshi and the signature within a square silver tablet TOSAI – this rare artist is associated with Suzuki Tokoku (1846-1913) who carved similar fine works with inlays.HEIGHT 2.6 cm, LENGTH 2.3 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor natural imperfections to the material, as are to be expected.Provenance: Ex-collection Irene Segeler, Zurich, purchased at Kunsthandel Klefisch, 26 November 1994, Cologne, lot 135. Irene Segeler specialized in collecting tiny children's netsuke, acquiring over 80 examples, which is quite remarkable as they are exceptionally rare. A few pieces from her collection are illustrated in Children's Netsuke (2001), The International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 26-30.Literature comparison:Compare a related wood netsuke, by Jujo (school of Jugyoku), in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 279.

KOKOKU: A VERY FINE INLAID WOOD NETSUKE OF JUROJIN WITH STAGBy Kokoku, signed Kokoku 光谷 with seal Kokoku 光谷Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)Carved from two different woods and inlaid with various materials including horn, bone and stag antler, depicting the lucky god Jurojin seated in a relaxed pose, holding a scroll and leaning on his stag familiar. Two himotoshi underneath and signed KOKOKU with inlaid gold seal Kokoku.LENGTH 4.6 cmCondition: Very good condition, a microscopic crack to the underside of the sleeve.Museum comparison:Compare to a closely related netsuke depicting the same subject, also signed Kokoku with gold seal Kokoku, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met), New York, accession no. 10.211.744.

TOKOKU: A MASTERFUL MIXED MATERIAL NETSUKE OF A BUTTERFLYBy Suzuki Tokoku (1846-1913), signed Tokoku 東谷 with seal Bairyu 楳立Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)Published: Mcniff, Ed (2004) Auctions, International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 24, no. 4, p. 694.Of manju type, masterfully worked in various precious materials including mother-of-pearl, ebony and horn, depicting a butterfly with outstretched wings. The choice section of ebony which is inlaid to the mother-of-pearl frame is cleverly utilized and worked to resemble the heterogenous surface of the membrane of the butterfly's wings. The various patterns are minutely inlaid in the form of shaped roundels to the back and front. The craftsmanship and precision are truly remarkable and hold up to extreme magnification. The backside with two ringed himotoshi and the incised signature TOKOKU and inlaid gold seal Bairyu.LENGTH 6.3 cm, HEIGHT 3 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear to one inlay. Provenance: Sold at Eldred's, 23 August 2004, Massachusetts, lot 694 (sold for hammer price 8,500 USD).In the auction report mentioned above Ed Mcniff remarks the following: “..upon close inspection, the workmanship and technical carving skill apparent in this piece are as impressive as any I've ever seen. Perhaps this is an example of an artist who was willing to adjust his artistic sensibilities to suit the demands of the times, but also of a superb craftsman unwilling to compromise his craft.”

OUCHI GYOKUSO: A VERY FINE SO SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A TEMPLE SERVANT WITH MOKUGYOBy Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944), signed Gyokuso 玉藻Japan, Tokyo, early 20th centuryVery finely carved as a man chanting and wearing a mokugyo strapped around his neck and beating it with a striker, the free hand resting against the side of his face, the double-dragon headed mokugyo with a loose ball inside. His patterned robe is well-carved, the hem lifted and tucked into the obi, the signature GYOKUSO incised to the interior of the hem, flanked by two himotoshi, an inro with en suite manju netsuke hanging from the obi. The lightly stained wood is superbly finished as is typical for this school.HEIGHT 5.7 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Provenance: Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, purchased at Lempertz, The Kolodotschko Collection of Netsuke II, 6 December 2014, Cologne, lot 942.Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944) was the father of Ouchi Sosui (1911-1966) and together with Morita Soko (1879-1942) the most important pupil of Miyazaki Joso (1835-1910), the founder of the important So school in Tokyo.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke by Morita Soko, depicting the same subject, at Kunsthandel Klefisch, Asiatische Kunst, 16 July 2005, lot 675 (illustrated on pl. XV).

SOZAN: A VERY FINE SO SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A PUPPETEERBy Sozan, signed Sozan 宗山Japan, Tokyo, late 19th to early 20th centurySuperbly carved as a puppeteer holding a large box with movable drawer to the side, placing a puppet female puppet holding a fan on top of the box, his robe incised with minutely carved patterns. The wood is masterfully finished and polished, and further embellished with various colored inlays. Large himotoshi to the back, the cord channel running through an opening of the man's jacket. Signed underneath the box within a red-lacquered reserve SOZAN.HEIGHT 5.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke by Tokoku, depicting the same subject, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 2, p. 1103. Also compare to a related wood netsuke by Gyokuso illustrated in Bandini, Rosemary (2001) Expressions of Style, Netsuke as Art, Scholten Japanese Art, New York, no. 30.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

OUCHI GYOKUSO: A MASTERFUL STAINED AND LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF A GROUP OF CUCUMBERSBy Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944), signed Gyokuso玉藻 to 刀Japan, Tokyo, early 20th centuryPublished: Bushell, Raymond (1971) Collector's Netsuke, p. 155, no. 261.Kobijutsu Rokusho vol. 27 (1991), 62.Sagemonoya (1998) So School Netsuke, no. 91.Naturalistically carved, stained green with black lacquered pimples, as three pickled cucumbers overlapping one another, above an edamame bean pod which forms the cord attachment and houses the signature GYOKUSO to [carved by Gyokuso]. The carving is superbly finished and polished in all the right areas, as is typical for the artist – a true miniature masterpiece.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Ex-collection Bluette H. Kirchhoff, sold at Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 2048 (sold for 9,150 USD).Ouchi Gyokuso (1879-1944) was the father of Ouchi Sosui (1911-1966) and together with Morita Soko (1879-1942) the most important pupil of Miyazaki Joso (1835-1910), the founder of the important So school in Tokyo.Literature comparison:There appears to be only two other netsuke recorded depicting cucumbers by the So school. Compare to a closely related ivory netsuke depicting cucumbers, by Morita Soko, illustrated in Sagemonoya (1998) So School Netsuke, no. 90. Also compare to a closely related lacquered wood netsuke depicting cucumbers and an eggplant, by Morita Soko, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond Netsuke (1975) Familiar & Unfamiliar, p. 169, no. 439.

MORITA SOKO: A SUPERB SMALL WOOD NETSUKE OF A RAT ON A STRAW RICE BALEBy Morita Soko (1879-1942), signed Soko 藻己 to 刀Japan, Tokyo, early 20th centuryPublished: Kobijutsu Rokusho vol. 27 (1991), 28.Sagemonoya (1998) So School Netsuke, no. 28.Exquisitely carved as a small rat (nezumI) sitting on a bundle of rice stalks naturalistically carved within a shallow basket, the weaving intricately emulated, its long finely carved tail extending towards the underside and gnawing at a minutely carved branch of persimmon fruit. Signed to the underside within a polished area SOKO to [carved by Soko].LENGTH 3 cmCondition: Tiny chip to one ear, otherwise excellent condition.Provenance: The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, sold at Bonhams, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 2067 (sold for 11,590 USD). A princely collection, acquired from the above.The rat (nezumI) seated on rice stalks is an allusion to the lucky god of wealth Daikoku.Literature comparison:Fuld's Netsuke and Ojime Index records two further netsuke of rats on a straw basket, each depicted in a different manner. One is recorded in Traditional Objects, INCS Journal, Vol. 4, no. 3, p. 16, figs. 2A & 2B. Another is recorded in Coullery, Marie-Therese and Newstead, Martin S. (1977) The Baur Collection, pp. 360-361, no. C1145.

A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A SARUMAWASHI, ATTRIBUTED TO GECHUAttributed to Gechu, unsigned Japan, Osaka, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 16, no. 17.Powerfully carved as a standing monkey trainer, holding his cane in his right hand, wearing a robe with finely incised folds, a small woven basket tied to his belt, his large bag tied around his neck, his monkey seated on his shoulder, wearing a patterned robe and striking an amusing pose with both hands touching his face, the monkey trainer with an equally humorous expression with the mouth wide open, their eyes inlaid in dark horn. The back with two asymmetrical himotoshi placed at angle. The ivory with a superb, honey-golden patina. This type of netsuke is typically unsigned but can be confidently attributed to Gechu, or at the very least a close follower.HEIGHT 8.2 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, fine age cracks, the feet and a section of the cane are repaired.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Gechu is a somewhat enigmatic carver of netsuke, in that little is known of him, including his residence. For many years he has been thought to have lived in Osaka, mainly based upon the similarity of his work to that of Risuke Garaku of that city. Recently it has been suggested by Alain Ducros that he may well have been domiciled in Satsuma Province on the island of Kyushu (Alain Ducros, Satsuma Ivory Netsuke, INSJ, Vol. 36, no. 2, Summer 2016, pp. 20-29). In the same article by Mr. Ducros there is a similar ivory netsuke of a foreign-looking sarumawashi (fig. 13.).Auction comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke of a Chinese sarumawashi, most likely by the same hand, dated 18th century, at Christie's, Fine Netsuke formerly in the Albert Brockhaus Collection, 25 November 1980, London, lot 95 (illustrated in color on the frontispiece). This netsuke is also illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XVII, no. 812.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207509862-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

A POWERFUL TALL STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF CHINNAN SENNIN, ATTRIBUTED TO TOMOHISAAttributed to Tomohisa, unsignedJapan, Kyoto, mid-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Powerfully carved, the sennin standing tall and holding an alms bowl in one hand, from which a small sinuous dragon emerges, and a gnarled staff in the other, wearing a long robe with deeply carved folds as well as an artemisia leaf skirt and apron with neatly incised veins. His face with a grim expression, the mouth slightly open, the eyes with pierced pupils, the hair and long chin beard carved in thick strands. The back with asymmetrical himotoshi. Beautiful, deep caramel-brown patina.HEIGHT 10.2 cmCondition: Good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections, the feet restored.The present lot is attributed to Tomohisa, who belongs to an important group of 18th-century figure carvers, which also includes Mototada. About this group, Jay Hopkins writes, “Working in staghorn, they primarily produced large figures ranging from 3 to 6 inches in height. Subject matter usually involved Chinese legends, including Shoki, sennin, Kann'u, guardians and entertainers. They effectively used black horn to inlay eye pupils, buttons and other details – perhaps the earliest cavers to use this technique.” See Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. I, p. 30.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related stag antler netsuke of Chinnan Sennin with a dragon by Tomohisa, illustrated in Barry Davies Oriental Art (2001) Selected Netsuke and Inro for exhibition at the International Netsuke Society Convention Boston, p. 3. Compare a related stag antler netsuke of Handaka Sonja with a dragon by Tomohisa, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. I, p. 200-201, no. 55.

A POWERFUL STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A DRAGON WITH TAMA, ATTRIBUTED TO MOTOTADAAttributed to Mototada, unsigned Japan, Kyoto, mid-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Powerfully carved, the three-clawed two-horned dragon writhing around a large tama pearl which is smoothly polished, creating an appealing contrast to the dragon's scaly body, the beast with a ferocious expression, its eyes inlaid with dark horn. The skillfully executed incision work is darkly stained for effect. The tama with the rather well-hidden himotoshi. The base of the tama and areas of the dragon's body with a rich, pale-brown patina.HEIGHT 5.3 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections.Provenance: Ex-collection Michael Tomkinson (by repute).The present lot is attributed to Mototada, who belongs to an important group of 18th-century figure carvers, which also includes Tomohisa. About this group, Jay Hopkins writes, “Working in staghorn, they primarily produced large figures ranging from 3 to 6 inches in height. Subject matter usually involved Chinese legends, including Shoki, sennin, Kann'u, guardians and entertainers. They effectively used black horn to inlay eye pupils, buttons and other details – perhaps the earliest cavers to use this technique.” See Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. I, p. 30.Literature comparison: Compare a related stag antler netsuke of Chinnan Sennin and a dragon by Mototada, illustrated in Chappell, Sharon / Welch, Matthew (1999) Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, p. 24, no. 9.

KOKUSAI: A STAG ANTLER RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING A ROOF TILE WITH ONI MASK (ONIGAWARA)By Ozaki Kokusai (1835-1892), sealed Koku 谷Japan, Shiba, Tokyo, c. 1860-1880Of oval form, finely carved and pierced to depict the face of an oni with a large reishi-form nose and similarly carved brows, the face encircled by the neatly incised mane, the reverse with a kongo (vajra), scroll designs, and a tama pearl carved with the seal KOKU. LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, appealingly worn, natural imperfections.Literature comparison: Compare two stag antler kiseruzutsu by Kokusai, each decorated with a very similar roof tile (described as “shishi monster face medallion[s]”), illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, p. 366-367, nos. 278-279.Auction comparison:Compare a related stag antler netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai, also depicting a roof tile with oni mask, 4.2 cm, at Sotheby's, The Katchen Collection of Netsuke, 8 November 2005, lot 88 (sold for 11,760 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

KOKU: A STAG ANTLER KNIFE HANDLE IN THE FORM OF A MONKEY WITH A LOTUS CLOAKBy a follower of Ozaki Kokusai (1853-1892), sealed Koku 谷Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, late 19th centuryThe netsuke sized handle exquisitely carved as a tanuki-like monkey seated on a circular platform rising from a lotus blossom, wearing a large worm-eaten lotus leaf as a cloak over its back and head, the simian's fur neatly incised and darkly stained, its face well detailed with round eyes and the mouth wide open revealing tongue and teeth, the back carved with the seal KOKU.HEIGHT 6.3 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections.While the Koku seal is perfectly cut and the overall quality is indicative of this grand artist, the carving is a little too refined for Ozaki Kokusai, a more likely artist being a close follower such as Hoshunsai Masayuki.Literature comparison:Compare a related stag antler box and cover by Kokusai, with similarly carved lotus petals and leaf, also sealed Koku, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, p. 322-323, no. 252. Compare also two stag antler netsuke of stylized bats with similarly incised fur and eyes, attributed to Masayuki, illustrated in ibid., vol. III, p. 78-81, nos. 375-376.Auction comparison:Compare a related stag antler netsuke of a kappa ningyo, attributed to Ozaki Kokusai but more likely by Masayuki, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 253 (sold for EUR 21,488). Compare also an ivory netsuke of a cat in a kimono by Masayuki at Lempertz, Netsuke aus der Sammlung Albert Brockhaus, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot 529 (sold for 18,750 EUR).

A STAG ANTLER RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE OF A KIRIN AMONGST CLOUDSUnsignedJapan, Tokyo, Asakusa, mid to late 19th centuryPublished: Raymond and Frances Bushell (December 1983) Please Take My Kokusais Part II: The Frances Numano Collection, Netsuke Kenkyukai, Vol. 3, No. 4, p. 30.Of partly furled petal-lobed form, finely carved and pierced with a kirin standing foursquare with its head turned back amid swirling clouds, its mane and bushy tail neatly incised, the reverse with a hexagonal panel enclosing waves and clouds. DIAMETER 3.9 cmCondition: Very good condition, appealingly worn, natural imperfections. Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Sotheby's, Netsuke from the Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell, 18 November 1999, London, lot 318. US private collection, acquired from the above.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

A STAG ANTLER AND SHIBUICHI KAGAMIBUTA NETSUKE DEPICTING A GOOSE IN FLIGHTUnsignedJapan, Tokyo, Asakusa, late 19th centuryOf circular form, the stag antler bowl fitted with a shibuichi plate worked in takazogan with a goose in flight, a cloud behind it indicated by the empty space, the bowl finely carved and reticulated with a basketweave design and crashing waves to the sides, the reverse with a hexagonal design of ginkgo leaves alternating with oval leaves radiating from the central himotoshi. DIAMETER 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, appealingly worn, natural imperfections to stag antler, the reverse with remnants of an old label.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

A STAG ANTLER RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE OF A HO-O BIRD AND UNUSUAL MONUnsignedJapan, Tokyo, Asakusa, mid to late 19th centuryFinely carved in openwork with a central roundel enclosing a flying ho-o bird, the twisted strands of its long tail flowing in the wind, encircled by stylized petals, the reverse with a mon composed of a twisted circular design surmounted by inflorescences, centered by a single himotoshi. DIAMETER 4 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear and typical natural imperfections.The mon carved to the reverse of the present netsuke is highly unusual and appears to be a combination of the 'body' of the Maruni Musubi Karigane (wild goose crest) and the inflorescences found on the kiri mon (paulownia crest). Both the ho-o bird, which is carved to the front of this netsuke, and the paulownia (kiri) tree are imperial symbols of Japan. According to legend, the ho-o, a bird similar to the phoenix that represents the eternal rebirth of the soul, only settles on the Kiri tree. In the hope of attracting this auspicious bird that blesses people with wisdom, health and happiness, the trees are planted in courtyards and gardens.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

KO: AN INLAID WALRUS IVORY RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE WITH DEPICTING THE THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER (SHOCHIKUBAI)By Ko, sealed Ko 光Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th centuryOf circular form, intricately carved in openwork with craggy rockwork, thick clouds, pine, bamboo, and a jakago (bamboo basket), and finely decorated in shibuichi and copper takazogan with the stump of a tree issuing a single branch bearing plum blossoms. The reverse with a central himotoshi surrounded by bamboo leaves and pine clusters as well as a circular reserve incised with a single seal character KO.DIAMETER 4.2 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections.Provenance: From the collection of Gaston Lazard (1878-1956) and his wife Jane Levy (1886-1985) and thence by descent within the same family.Literature comparison: Compare a related inlaid ivory ryusa manju netsuke, also signed Ko in seal form, similarly carved with pines and bamboo, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 627.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A MULE AND GROOMUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Rutherston & Bandini (2011) The Sheila M. Baker Collection of Japanese Netsuke and Inro, no. 17.Exhibited: Frankfurt Museum fuer Kunstgewerbe in 1991. The netsuke is illustrated in an article on the exhibition by I. Schaarschmidt-Richter titled Von der Großen Kunst der Kleinen Dinge.A remarkably large, boldly carved, and humorous wood netsuke depicting a man crouching below his mule and lifting the animal's hindleg to remove a stone from one hoof. The man's expression is amusingly crafted, aware of his precarious situation, as the mule tenses up, its ears pricked and mouth opened with agitation, presumably about to start kicking about. The eyes of the mule are inlaid in bone with black wood pupils. The well-toned wood is pleasingly worn with a beautiful patina. Natural himotoshi.HEIGHT 5 cm, LENGTH 5.4 cmCondition: Very good condition with typical surface wear and traces of use. Beautiful patina.Provenance: Sotheby's, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 23 June 1982, London, lot 520. Ex-collection Sheila M. Baker. Sold through Rutherston & Bandini. Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt. Theodor “Teddy” Hahn was a well-known and respected collector of netsuke and other Asian works of art. After spending time in museums to study the early cultures of the world, finding particular interest in their sculptures, he began collecting, remarking, “I somehow knew it would have a profound influence on my life. How right I was. And how happy I have been.”

A SUPERB STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF EDAMAME BEAN-PODSUnsigned Japan, 19th centuryFinely carved from a branch section of purely white antler, much of the natural orientation dictating the shape of the netsuke. Depicted is a group of overlapping edamame bean pods with subtly carved undulations to indicate the beans within. Two ends of the netsuke with stag antler plugs. One side with two generously excavated himotoshi.The stag antler is of a deceivingly pure color and quality, the material revealed only by the two plugs and small areas of natural imperfections. LENGTH 5.6 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, few light surface scratches. Provenance: Old Dutch private collection. Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam, acquired from the above.Edamame literally means stem beans because the soybeans were boiled while still attached to the stem. Legumes such as beans (mame) and peas (endo) symbolize female fertility in East Asia. The fruits that appear in the swelling of the pod are considered to be the unborn child in the womb. Mame, written with different characters, also means health and efficiency. Bean netsuke were therefore worn as a talisman.

A STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF REISHI FUNGIUnsigned Japan, 19th centuryWell carved as six reishi heads of varying sizes borne on gnarled stems, some of which are entwined, the surface finished to resemble the naturally rough texture and stained dark. Several possibilities for the cord attachment due to the openwork. HEIGHT 6 cmCondition: Very good condition, attractively worn, few small age cracks. Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Literature comparison: Compare a related stag antler netsuke of reishi fungi by Rosetsu, dated circa 1870s-1890s, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 402-403, no. 575.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

A FINE STAG ANTLER RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE OF A CUCKOO AND MOON (TSUKI NI HOTOTOGISU), ATTRIBUTED TO RENSAIAttributed to Ishikawa Rensai Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa District, mid to late 19th century, c. 1860s-1880sFinely carved in openwork with a night cuckoo (hototogisu), a bird associated with the summer, flying over the crescent moon before a thoroughly stylized conception of ribbon-like swirling clouds. The back of the moon is carved with a partly 'obscured' seal.LENGTH 4.4 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, natural imperfections including minor age cracks.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.The subject of a cuckoo and the moon (tsuki no hototogisu) has a long association with romance and has inspired many poems. A poem by Otomo no Yakamochi (c. 718-785), compiled in the Man'yoshu ('Collection of Ten Thousands Leaves'), reads: “Hototogisu, ko yo naki watare, tomoshibi o, tsukiyo ni nasoe, sono kage mo mimu” ('Come and sing here, cuckoo. We would see you, with our lamplight for the moon').Literature comparison: Compare a closely related stag antler ryusa manju netsuke depicting the same subject, also attributed to Rensai, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 60-61, no. 363.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

ISHIKAWA RENSAI: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A FISHERMAN SUBDUING A FUGU (BLOWFISH)By Ishikawa Rensai, signed Rensai 蓮齋Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa District, second half of 19th centuryPublished: Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 52-53, no. 357.Superbly polished, amusingly and finely carved as a fisherman on top of a giant fugu, his behind resting squarely on the fish's head, his hands grabbing the tail fin, his legs spread out as he uses all his strength to hold the fugu down, which has been considerably flattened by the man's effort, forming the oval base of the netsuke, the underside with two asymmetrical himotoshi and the rather unusual signature RENSAI in sosho script. Note the fine staining to the fugu's head and surrounding area.LENGTH 3.7 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke depicting a similar subject by Rensai, with similar staining to the fugu, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (1996) Meetings with Remarkable Netsuke, London, no. 90, and also illustrated with a line drawing in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 647. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 22-B-0213 ). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

MASAYUKI: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SMOKING ONIBy Hoshunsai Masayuki, signed Masayuki 正之 with kakihanJapan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The repentant oni (oni no nembutsu) seated cross-legged, wearing a monastic robe, his hair tied in typical Edo fashion, two horns visible on his head, holding a large pipe in one hand, the other hand beating against his chest as he is about to release a plume of smoke. The details are expressively carved, and the wood bears a rich, unctuous patina. The underside with himotoshi and signature MASAYUKI and kakihan.HEIGHT 3.5 cm, LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor surface wear.Provenance: From an old Swiss private collection, Geneva.

MASAYUKI: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A BOYBy Hoshunsai Masayuki, signed Masayuki 正之 with kakihanJapan, Edo (Tokyo), c. 1860Finely carved, the young boy wearing a ruffled collar, his head tilted upwards with a joyous expression and clasping his feet tightly together in a shunga-like gesture. The underside of the netsuke reveals a beautifully carved stylized lucky sparrow (fukura suzume) with neatly incised hanabishi décor. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi underneath and signed within a raised, double-gourd shaped reserve MASAYUKI and kakihan.HEIGHT 3 cm, LENGTH 3.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition, very minor wear.Literature comparison:A near-identical or perhaps this exact netsuke is illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 493.A remarkably fine and clever study by Hoshunsai Masayuki who is celebrated for his stag antler carvings and somewhat undeservedly has received little acclaim for his wood netsuke which belongs to his suspected early production when working in the Edo style.

HOSHUNSAI MASAYUKI: A MASTERFUL WOOD NETSUKE OF A STRANGE KAPPA By Hoshunsai Masayuki, signed with the artist's kakihanJapan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryPublished: Cohen, George (1974) In Search of Netsuke & Inro, p.59, pl. XV, no. 243.Superbly carved as a very unusual long-haired, ape-like kappa crossing its arms and resting them on a cucumber which it grabs with its feet. The enigmatic eyes are inlays of highly iridescent blueish horn, which make for a haunting expression as the strange mythical creature gnashes its teeth. The carving is incredibly refined, with superb detailing to the hairwork and bony fingers, though still bearing a purposely roughened appearance to the hairwork and cucumber. Masayuki is best known for his stag antler carvings and it is evident that the present netsuke is carved to imitate stag antler. The carving is certainly a departure from his typical Tokyo school wood pieces depicting traditional daily life subjects and is much closer to his stag antler carvings, often depicting exotic and strange subjects. Natural himotoshi and signed with the artist's kakihan underneath the cucumber.HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 3.6 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection Annable, sold through Geoffrey Moss of Sydney L. Moss Ltd. Ex-collection George Cohen, acquired from the above. Sold Sotheby's, 29 May 1980, London, lot 48. Ex-collection Joe Kurstin, acquired from the above. Dr. M. Joseph 'Joe' Kurstin (1931-2021) was a prominent Miami ophthalmologist who arguably built one of the greatest netsuke collections of all time. He was known by netsuke and inro lovers worldwide and made many lifelong friends in this tight-knit community. He published several books and articles on the subject and generously lent his collection for exhibitions at the Yale University Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Epcot Center at Disney World, and The Tobacco and Salt Museum, Tokyo.

HAKUSAI: A RARE COROZO NUT AND STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A KAPPA HEADBy Hoshino Hakusai, signed Haku はクJapan, Asakusa, Tokyo, second half of 19th centuryExquisitely carved, the head surmounted by a natural deer coronet with horsehair tufts, the round eyes double-inlaid in translucent and dark horn, the head itself carved from corozo nut, the finely textured skin of the nut still visible to the cheeks, chin, and back, the face well detailed with neatly incised wrinkles and grimacing mouth slightly agape revealing teeth, the back with two asymmetrical himotoshi beside the signature HAKU executed in a mixture of hiragana and katakana characters within an oval reserve.Corozo nut is rarely used in netsuke art as it is notoriously difficult to carve. The artist here exhibits tremendous skill, the surface of the nut brilliantly utilized to emulate antler.HEIGHT 4.3 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Walter Heihs. Sotheby's, 17 June 1998, London, lot 752 (described as a tengu mask).Auction comparison: Compare a related Asakusa school stag antler netsuke of a kappa head by Gyokusai, also previously in the collection of Dr. Walter Heihs, sold at Sotheby's, 17 June 1998, lot 732, and later at Galerie Zacke, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 257 (sold for 6,320 EUR).

A SUPERB STAG ANTLER MASK NETSUKE OF HANNYAUnsigned Japan, probably Asakusa, Toyko, second half of 19th centuryFinely carved with a fierce expression, the intense eyes with raised and pierced pupils, the nose bridge and forehead with cranial bump well-detailed, the hooked nose with pierced nostrils, the mouth wide open showing teeth and tongue, the back with a himotoshi bar, the stag antler with a rich, deep staining.HEIGHT 3.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections with possible associated small loss to back of tongue.As evidenced by the museum comparison below (and many further examples in private and public collections), stag antler netsuke are most commonly of a rather rustic design, especially compared to the present netsuke, which boasts well-detailed and finely carved features that make this a particularly rare example.Museum comparison: Compare a related stag antler mask netsuke, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18928.Auction comparison: Compare a stag antler netsuke of an oni, attributed to Kokusai, at Sotheby's, 19 June 2001, London, lot 43 (sold for 3,840 GBP), illustrated in Wright, Douglas J. K. (Fall 2001) Auctions, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3, p. 36. Also compare a related stag antler mask netsuke of Hotei, with a similar patina, 4.7 cm high, dated early 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 220 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

MITSUHIRO: A RARE AND IMPORTANT IVORY NETSUKE OF THE GHOST OF OIWA AS A CHOCHIN (LANTERN)By Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875), signed Mitsuhiro 光廣Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: The Honolulu Academy of Arts Netsuke Exhibit (1975) INCS Journal Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 31, no. 70.Lazarnick, George (1976) The Signature Book of Netsuke, Inro and Ojime Artists in Photographs, p. 286.Hurtig, Helen (1980) Grotesqueries in Netsuke, INCS Journal Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 32, no. 26A.Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 72 (in color) and p. 779.Eskenazi (1990) Japanese netsuke from the Lazarnick collection, p. 53, no. 30.Eskenazi (1998) Japanese netsuke, ojime and inro from a private European collection, p. 34, no. 26.Finely carved, the paper lantern baring the open-mouthed face of the ghastly heroine, the pupils inlaid with dark horn, her neatly incised long hair brushed back and her eyes inlaid, the incised details and inscriptions on the ivory skillfully stained for effect. The forehead bears a bonji (Sanskrit character). The back of the lantern bears an inscription Namu Amida butsu zokumyo Oiwa-jo (save us merciful Buddha, the woman commonly known as Oiwa), beside the asymmetrical himotoshi and below the signature MITSUHIRO. The staining and extensive use of sumi-e, as well as the minutely incised signature, is certainly coherent with the work of Mitsuhiro, while the size and subject matter are a departure from this celebrated artist's usual work. It is likely that the present netsuke was a one-off commission.HEIGHT 5.1 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, natural flaws including expected age cracks. Provenance: Ex-collection George Lazarnick. Eskenazi, London, 1990. Ex-collection Emiel Veranneman, acquired from the above. Eskenazi, London, 1998. Sotheby's, May 2007, London, lot 785 (described as “after Ohara Mitsuhiro; sold for GBP 6,600). European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Oiwa died in 1636 and even today it is believed that she haunts the place of her death as well as anyone who performs her story which was adapted into the famous kabuki play Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (Ghost story of Yotsuya in Tokaido) in 1825. The story is a tale of betrayal, murder, and ghostly revenge which features Tamiya Iemon who poisoned his loving wife Oiwa, who in turn haunted him and drove him mad. The design of the present netsuke is taken from a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) titled Oiwa-san from the series Hyaku monogatari (One Hundred Ghost Stories), circa 1831-1832.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A GRAZING HORSEUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The horse depicted in a typical posture with neatly incised hairwork, its head lowered towards the ground, the long, twisting neck with a finely carved mane, a saddle wrapped to the body with a cloth tied with a ribbon. The well-carved tail sweeps around the back below the beautifully excavated, asymmetrical himotoshi. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina.HEIGHT 5.4 cmCondition: One hoof with an old repair. Otherwise very good condition with minor expected wear.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a grazing horse with a similar saddle cloth, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 33 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

A LARGE WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF USOFUKIUnsigned Japan, 19th centuryWell carved with an amusing expression, the elongated lips puckered in a whistle and twisted to one side, the wrinkles deeply carved and accentuated by skillful staining, one eye narrowed, both with pupils inlaid in dark horn, the ears pierced, the forehead with a prominent circular bump. The reverse deeply incised with a kakihan (artist's cursive monogram) below the vertically pierced himotoshi bar.HEIGHT 7.1 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, the reverse with few light scratches, tiny repair to the edge above the right ear. Provenance: Parisian private collection. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above in May 2002.Usofuki (or Usobuki) is a Kyogen mask type which is not well standardized, but easily identifiable by the pursed or puckered lips, lending the mask (and the actor wearing it) a highly comical expression. The noun usobuki or usofuki is a gerund of the verb usobuku, which has many meanings: exhale sharply, whistle, hum, intone, howl or bay, pretend ignorance, and brag. A highly regarded ethnographer and linguist, the late Shinobu Orikuchi assigned a much earlier meaning to usobuku: taunt, oppose, and rebel. He specifically interpreted the pursed lips of old indigenous masks as signifying imminent speech, as the expression of seirei determined to speak out in defiance but constrained by the consequences of thereby acknowledging the authority of the kami.

AN AMUSING WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF A LONG-NOSED TENGUUnsigned Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Bulletin Franco Japonais, no. 50, October 1996, p. 26, no. 50.Expressively and amusingly carved as a tengu with its long nose bent to one side, his face contorted in a pained grimace, the eyes with large pierced pupils evoking a distraught expression, the details deeply carved and heightened by skillful staining.HEIGHT 4.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Kunsthandel Klefisch, 24 June 1995, Cologne. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Tengu masks are popularly used at tengu festivals held all over Japan, from Tengu Matsuri on Mt. Tengu in Hokkaido, to the Shimokitazawa Tengu Festival in Tokyo. While the tengu Matsuri is a more traditional affair, the Shimokitazawa festival is a modern take on setsubun, where beans are thrown to ward away evil. People dressed as tengu take to the streets, visiting shops and homes to throw their beans of evil's bane to bring good luck and fortune.In netsuke art, the tengu mask often takes on a phallic meaning due to its long nose. In the present netsuke, however, this symbolism has been inverted, as the nose does not protrude outward but is bent to the side, a surely painful and emasculating experience which nonetheless elicits amusement.Literature comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke depicting Hyottoko, also with a long nose twisted to one side, albeit with a stern expression, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pls. 254.Museum comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke by Kokeisai Sansho, also depicting a long-nosed tengu with similar expression, 5.4 cm high, dated late 19th to early 20th century, previously in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.91.250.341, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond Netsuke (1975) Familiar & Unfamiliar, p. 146, no. 315 and Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pl. 327. Compare also a related wood netsuke by Deme Uman, also depicting a long-nosed tengu, 5.7 cm high, dated 19th century, previously in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden-Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18947, illustrated in Patrizia Jirka-Schmitz (2000) Netsuke: Trumpf Collection, vol. 2, Linden Museum, 2000, p. 217, no. 432.

HIDARI ISSAN: A RARE WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF SOJOBO, THE TENGU KING OF MOUNT KURAMABy Hidari Issan (1804-1857), signed Hidari Issan 左一山 with kakihanJapan, Iwashiro, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868)A well-sized wood netsuke, boldly carved as the Tengu King wearing the characteristic tokin cap of the yamabushi, his face with a stern expression, his bulging eyes with round gilt-ringed pupils, his prominent nose with recessed nostrils, flanked by strong cheeks, his long beard neatly incised and curling back to the reverse below the broad himotoshi bar signed HIDARI ISSAN with a kakihan based on the character Toku 篤. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina.HEIGHT 4.6 cm, LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Good condition with some wear, few light scratches, one larger scratch to the back of the himotoshi bar.Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Walter Heihs. Sotheby's, 17 June 1998, London, lot 712. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Sojobo is the mythical king and god of the tengu. He has the appearance of a yamabushi and is often depicted wearing their tokin cap. The other distinctive physical characteristics of Sojobo include his long, white hair and unnaturally long nose. Sojobo is said to live on Mount Kurama. He rules over the other tengu that inhabit Mount Kurama in addition to all the other tengu in Japan. He is extremely powerful, and one legend says he has the strength of 1,000 normal tengu. He is perhaps best known for the legend of his teaching the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (then known by his childhood name Ushiwaka-maru or Shanao) the arts of swordsmanship, tactics, and magic.Literature comparison:Mask netsuke by Hidari Issan are rare with only very few examples recorded. A mask netsuke of Okame bearing a similar kakihan is illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 1, p. 519. Another mask netsuke depicting a comical mask of Emi-men is illustrated in Davey, Neil K. / Tripp, Susan G. (1993) The Garrett Collection, p. 293, no. 426.

KOKEISAI SANSHO: A SUPERB WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF A GROTESQUELY GRIMACING MANBy Kokeisai Sansho (1871-1936), signed with the artist's kakihanJapan, Osaka, early 20th centuryWell carved as a grimacing man with pierced pupils, nostrils, and mouth, one eye round and the other narrowed, centered by a prominent bump to the forehead and the broad nose, above the open mouth with missing teeth, the head wrapped in a cloth tied at his left cheek, the reverse with a narrow himotoshi bar incised with the kakihan of Kokeisai Sansho (artist's cursive monogram).HEIGHT 3.8 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection Grandvuinet. Sotheby's, 14 July 2006, London, lot 1109 (part lot). European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood mask netsuke, unsigned and attributed to Kokeisai Sansho, described as a Kuron mask, 5.4 cm high, illustrated in Boris Filatov (Spring 2012) Kokeisai Sansho: Mystery of the Genius International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 25, no. 17. Several further examples are illustrated in the article showing this exact kakihan.Auction comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a feline creature, also signed with Sansho's kakihan, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 228 (sold for 10,112 EUR).

A LARGE AND SUPERB WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF A GROTESQUELY GRIMACING MAN, ATTRIBUTED TO KOKEISAI SANSHOAttributed to Kokeisai Sansho (1871-1936), unsignedJapan, Osaka, early 20th centuryVery similar to no. 245, however significantly larger. Well carved as a grimacing man, his right eye large and round and his left almost shut, centered by a prominent bump to the forehead and the broad nose with asymmetrical nostrils, above the open mouth with missing teeth and outstretched tongue, his brows and wrinkles neatly incised, the head wrapped in a cloth. Unsigned, however confidently attributed to the celebrated Osaka master Kokeisai Sansho (1871-1936).HEIGHT 6.2 cmCondition: The himotoshi bar in the back has been lost and with associated restoration to the back. Otherwise fine condition.The present netsuke shows strong affinities with the work of Kokeisai Sansho (1871-1936), who lived in Osaka and whose life and work are discussed by Boris Filatov in Kokeisai Sansho: Mystery of the Genius (Spring 2012) International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 12-25.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood mask netsuke described as a Kuron mask, attributed to Kokeisai Sansho, 5.4 cm high, illustrated in Boris Filatov (Spring 2012) Kokeisai Sansho: Mystery of the Genius International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 32, no. 1, p. 25, no. 17.

CHIKUSAI: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING THE HEAD OF A DOGBy Chikusai, signed Chikusai 竹齋Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid to late 19th centuryPublished: Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pl. 304.Well carved in the round, the eyes double-inlaid with pale and dark horn, the fur finely incised, the floppy ears relaxed, the mouth and eyes conveying a pleading look, trying to gain the viewer's sympathy. The underside with a horizontally pierced himotoshi bar, signed CHIKUSAI.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, old restoration to one eye. Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond Bushell. Collection Prof. Dr. Henk C. Hoogsteden, Rotterdam.Netsuke depicting dog heads are rare, and are possibly inspired by European carvings and models, such as dog-shaped silver stirrup cups or figural walking sticks.Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke depicting the head of a dog, signed Ishikawa Komei, also formerly in the collection of Raymond Bushell, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond Netsuke (1975) Familiar & Unfamiliar, p. 218, no. 698, and later sold at Christie's, The Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of Netsuke Part II, 18 October 1988, London, lot 270, where it is noted to be “[p]robably a copy of a European ivory carving”.

IKKO: A WOOD KYOGEN MASK NETSUKE OF A MONKEY (SARU)By Ikko, signed Ikko 一光Japan, 19th centuryA very finely carved and remarkably naturalistically modeled mask netsuke, carved as a monkey with an intelligent expression marked by almond-shaped eyes surrounded by deep wrinkles, the mouth forming a subtle smile, his fur neatly incised, the details heightened by skillful staining, the back with a looped himotoshi bar below the signature IKKO. HEIGHT 4.1 cmCondition: The himotoshi bar in the back repaired. Otherwise excellent condition with minor expected wear.Provenance: European collection P. Jacquesson.Kyogen is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside Noh, was performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts on the same stage and retains close links to Noh in the modern day. Its contents are nevertheless not at all similar to the formal, symbolic, and solemn Noh theater; kyogen is a comic form, and its primary goal is to make its audience laugh.Saru, also known as Mashi, the monkey mask, is not entirely simian; it is more a humanoid simian. A realistic monkey face would not make a good Kyogen mask. As in the case of other animal masks such as the badger, fox, or dog, the monkey mask must include sufficient traces of human features for its ability to speak and understand not to cause too great a surprise.Literature comparison: For related wood mask netsuke of saru, see Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pls. 172-174.

OKATOMO: A VERY RARE EBONY WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF AN OLD MAN (JO)By Yamaguchi Okatomo, signed Okatomo 岡友Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Powerfully carved, the narrowed eyes with incised and raised lids, the furrowed brows well carved and sparingly incised, the mouth slightly open in a subtle smile showing teeth, the long mustache and chin beard neatly incised, the chin beard continuing to the reverse up to the himotoshi bar and forming part of the cord channel, the bar signed OKATOMO.HEIGHT 5.1 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, few tiny nicks.The Noh masks that served as the inspiration for the present netsuke and others like it were fitted with natural hair (usually horsehair) to indicate the mustache and beard, and sometimes also the eyebrows. The ingenious detail of the beard leading up to the himotoshi bar and forming part of the cord channel is thus a departure of the usual mode of adhering closely to the actual Noh mask that was copied in miniature by the carver.The term Jo denotes a large corpus of indigenous masks that portray old men. These masks were worn, and still are, for a myriad of agrarian fertility rituals, rites for propitiating the gods of nature, and ceremonies associated with folk festivals. They usually represent an aged deity or an apotheosized elder. In the early days of Noh, there was only a single type of Jo mask which satisfied the need for any play requiring the role of an old man, but as new plays were written there was an increasing need for a variety of masks.Literature comparison:Mask netsuke by Okatomo are extremely rare. The only recorded example is an ivory netsuke of the face of oiwa as a lantern ghost, illustrated in Harris, Victor (1987) The Hull Grundy Collection in the British Museum, p. 36, no. 92.