Until 1st May, 2025

Buy it now

 
 

A RARE BRONZE 'JAPONISME' INKWELL IN THE FORM OF A CRAB
Lot 31 - AK0125

Buy now for €910.00



Lot details

Naturalistically modeled with detailed features of the crab’s body such as segmented legs, protruding eyes and large pincers. The hinged shell opens to reveal an inkwell, with a removable glass bowl inside. The bronze is patinated to a reddish-brown finish.

WIDTH 12 cm (the body only) and 22.5 cm (incl. legs)
WEIGHT 1.594 g

Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and casting flaws.
Provenance: From the estate of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen. Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen (1937-2023), was a Dutch portrait painter characterized as an Impressionist. Together with his partner Gerard Spruyt (1922-2011), he collected religious artifacts, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, as well as Japanese woodcuts and netsuke. Clemens built up this extensive collection of Asian art from the 1970s to the early 21st century through purchases at auctions such as Mak van Waay, De Zon and de Zwaan, as well as from antique dealers in the Spiegelkwartier.

Auction result comparison:
Compare a closely related crab inkwell, but by Wesley Trippett, at Sotheby’s, Important Design, 30 July 2020, New York, lot 33 (sold for USD 23,750).

 

Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only

You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.

If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.

   


Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.

Click here to request more information on this lot.

 
 

How to Buy Online

You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.

Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium. 

If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.

Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.

How to Buy Offline

If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.

Our Terms and Conditions

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.

For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.

The main points include the following:

  • Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
  • A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
  • A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.

If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.

By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.