Beschreibung:

Katalognummer: NE0320-099 MITANI GOHO: A RARE MARINE IVORY NETSUKE OF A MYRIAD OF SHELLS AND CRAB By Mitani Goho, signed and inscribed Bunka Kinoe-inu, juichi-toshi, shogatsu, Goho Japan, Aki province, dated 1814, Edo period (1615-1868) An elaborately crafted still life scene depicting a cluster of various shells and conches, and a minutely crafted crab with inlaid eyes. This motif is also referred to as Kai-tsukushi (“myriad of shells”). The present netsuke belongs to the rare group of ivory carvings by the celebrated carver Mitani Goho, which are very much unlike his more well-known Iwami style carvings, mostly of toads. The staining is superb, and the carving quality is refined and imbued with an excellent sense of naturalism. ‘Natural himotoshi’ through one of the conches on the underside, next to the inscription and signature reading Bunka Kinoe-inu, juichi-toshi, shogatsu, GOHO 五鳳 [January, Bunka 11th year (1814), the year of Kinoe-inu, Goho]. LENGTH 4.9 cm Condition: Very good condition, fine age cracks and surface wear. Provenance: French private collection. Literature comparison: For a group of similar netsuke illustrated with a line drawing by Frederick Meinertzhagen, see the Meinertzhagen Card Index, p.82. Schätzpreis 估價: € 5.000 Startpreis 起拍價: € 2.500 -