Beschreibung:

Katalognummer: NE0920-182 IKKOSAI: A VERY FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A MONKEY WITH SLEEPING YOUNG By ‘Saru’ Ikkosai, signed Ikkosai 一光齋 Japan, Edo/Tokyo, second half of 19th century Published: Joly, Henri L. (1975) Catalogue of the H. Seymour Trower Collection of Japanese Art, no. 508. Galerie Zacke (1984) Netsuke und Inro, no. 115. Rimondi, Gianni / Zacke, Lukas: Combien de Ikkosai. Part 2. In: International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 39, no. 3, Fall 2019, p. 31, fig. 30. Depicted is a male monkey holding its sleeping young close to its body as it is about to examine a flea which it holds up with its finely carved, bony fingers. The expression of the sleeping monkey is peaceful and serene, showing extremely fine carving on a limited space. The pupils of the father monkey are inlaid in dark horn. The ivory is beautifully stained and the hairwork is masterful, nothing short of a netsuke by Osaka carver Kaigyokusai Masatsugu. In fact, the two carvers must have had a shared sphere of influence as there are related models, strikingly similar in both quality and style, that are signed Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (see literature comparison). Natural himotoshi through the feet of the adult monkey and signed within a polished reserve underneath IKKOSAI. HEIGHT 2.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear to staining. Provenance: Ex collection Seymour Trower, collected between 1876 and 1910. Literature comparison: Compare to an ivory netsuke by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, no. 701. Auction comparison: Compare to a similar monkey signed Hojitsu, sold at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 113 (sold for 8.750 GBP). A group of three monkeys by Ikkosai was sold at Bonhams,The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I, 8 November 2016, London, lot 101 (sold for 4.000 GBP).   Schätzpreis 估價: € 5.000 Startpreis 起拍價: € 2.500 -