Unsigned Japan, late 17th to 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Boldly carved standing with his toad clambering on his shoulder and head, wearing a loose-fitting robe tied at the waist and opening at the chest, revealing the emaciated rib cage, as well as an apron and skirt of artemisia leaves. His hands are raised toward his face with the mouth wide open in a joyous expression, the eyes with large dark pupils. His long, curly hair arranged in two buns at the front. Two large asymmetrical himotoshi to the back. HEIGHT 13.1 cm Condition: The feet with old chips, which have largely smoothened over time. Minor natural age cracks. Good condition, appealingly worn, fine honey-gold patina. Provenance: French private collection. The present netsuke belongs to a group of well-known, idiosyncratic sennin netsuke, all likely coming from the same carver or workshop, probably in Kyoto during the early 18th century if not in the late 17th century. Literature comparison: A closely related 18th-century ivory netsuke of Gama Sennin is illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 333, no. 1014, and in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art: One Thousand Favorites of Leading Collectors, p. 192, no. 802; another, described as “possibly by the same artist” as the netsuke illustrated by Davey, is illustrated in Eskenazi (1993) Japanese netsuke from the Carré collection, p. 43, no. 8; and a third, with replaced feet, is illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XLV, no. 3455. Auction comparison: A closely related netsuke from the same workshop and of similar size was sold at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 3 December 2015, Cologne, lot 2273 (sold for 45,150 EUR). Another closely related but slightly smaller ivory netsuke of Gama Sennin, dated to the late 18th century, at Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 80 (sold for 23,750 GBP). Compare also a tall and early ivory netsuke of Shoki, carrying an oni on his shoulder in much the same manner as our Gama Sennin carries his toad, of slightly larger size and also unsigned, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 12 (sold for 25,280 EUR).
Unsigned Japan, late 17th to 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Boldly carved standing with his toad clambering on his shoulder and head, wearing a loose-fitting robe tied at the waist and opening at the chest, revealing the emaciated rib cage, as well as an apron and skirt of artemisia leaves. His hands are raised toward his face with the mouth wide open in a joyous expression, the eyes with large dark pupils. His long, curly hair arranged in two buns at the front. Two large asymmetrical himotoshi to the back. HEIGHT 13.1 cm Condition: The feet with old chips, which have largely smoothened over time. Minor natural age cracks. Good condition, appealingly worn, fine honey-gold patina. Provenance: French private collection. The present netsuke belongs to a group of well-known, idiosyncratic sennin netsuke, all likely coming from the same carver or workshop, probably in Kyoto during the early 18th century if not in the late 17th century. Literature comparison: A closely related 18th-century ivory netsuke of Gama Sennin is illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 333, no. 1014, and in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art: One Thousand Favorites of Leading Collectors, p. 192, no. 802; another, described as “possibly by the same artist” as the netsuke illustrated by Davey, is illustrated in Eskenazi (1993) Japanese netsuke from the Carré collection, p. 43, no. 8; and a third, with replaced feet, is illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XLV, no. 3455. Auction comparison: A closely related netsuke from the same workshop and of similar size was sold at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 3 December 2015, Cologne, lot 2273 (sold for 45,150 EUR). Another closely related but slightly smaller ivory netsuke of Gama Sennin, dated to the late 18th century, at Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 80 (sold for 23,750 GBP). Compare also a tall and early ivory netsuke of Shoki, carrying an oni on his shoulder in much the same manner as our Gama Sennin carries his toad, of slightly larger size and also unsigned, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 12 (sold for 25,280 EUR).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
