By Eisai, signed Ei 永 Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century Carved as a cluster of roof tiles, the topmost depicting an onigawara (demon faced roof tile), the others with a pitchfork, stylized phoenix, and a mitsudomo-e design, one tile to the lower area depicted from the side, showing the shape of the tile, the tiles exhibiting various degrees of wear, clearly intended by the artist. The reverse with formal designs, central himotoshi, and the seal signature EI, which is remarkably similar to the Kokusai seal (Koku). The material with natural inclusions, particularly visible to the unstained sections to the reverse, are typical of walrus ivory. LENGTH 4.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear. Provenance: Richard R. Silverman, acquired from Sotheby’s London in 1997 (by inventory). Richard R. Silverman (1932-2019) was a renowned Asian art collector with one of the largest private collections of netsuke outside of Japan. He lived in Tokyo between 1964 and 1979 and began to collect netsuke there in 1968. Since the 1970s, he wrote and lectured about netsuke and was an Asian art consultant for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams. His gift of 226 ceramic netsuke to the Toledo Museum of Art constitutes perhaps the largest public collection of these miniature clay sculptures in the world. After moving to California, Silverman became a member of the Far Eastern Art Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1984. In 1993, he joined LACMA’s Executive Board. He served on the board of directors for the International Society of Appraisers from 1986 to 1994 and served nine years as chair for the City of West Hollywood Fine Arts Commission. Richard Silverman was posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his decades-long promotion of Japanese culture. Auction comparison: For another manju by the artist, carved from walrus ivory, see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 17 May 2018, London, lot 107 (sold for 5,000 GBP). Literature comparison: Two related ryusa manju netsuke by the same carver, but carved from stag antler and depicting different subjects, are illustrated in Moss, Sydney L. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 260-261, nos. 493 and 494.
By Eisai, signed Ei 永 Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century Carved as a cluster of roof tiles, the topmost depicting an onigawara (demon faced roof tile), the others with a pitchfork, stylized phoenix, and a mitsudomo-e design, one tile to the lower area depicted from the side, showing the shape of the tile, the tiles exhibiting various degrees of wear, clearly intended by the artist. The reverse with formal designs, central himotoshi, and the seal signature EI, which is remarkably similar to the Kokusai seal (Koku). The material with natural inclusions, particularly visible to the unstained sections to the reverse, are typical of walrus ivory. LENGTH 4.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear. Provenance: Richard R. Silverman, acquired from Sotheby’s London in 1997 (by inventory). Richard R. Silverman (1932-2019) was a renowned Asian art collector with one of the largest private collections of netsuke outside of Japan. He lived in Tokyo between 1964 and 1979 and began to collect netsuke there in 1968. Since the 1970s, he wrote and lectured about netsuke and was an Asian art consultant for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams. His gift of 226 ceramic netsuke to the Toledo Museum of Art constitutes perhaps the largest public collection of these miniature clay sculptures in the world. After moving to California, Silverman became a member of the Far Eastern Art Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1984. In 1993, he joined LACMA’s Executive Board. He served on the board of directors for the International Society of Appraisers from 1986 to 1994 and served nine years as chair for the City of West Hollywood Fine Arts Commission. Richard Silverman was posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his decades-long promotion of Japanese culture. Auction comparison: For another manju by the artist, carved from walrus ivory, see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 17 May 2018, London, lot 107 (sold for 5,000 GBP). Literature comparison: Two related ryusa manju netsuke by the same carver, but carved from stag antler and depicting different subjects, are illustrated in Moss, Sydney L. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. III, p. 260-261, nos. 493 and 494.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
