Until 1st Aug, 2023
Buy it now
AN IMPORTANT EARLY WOOD MASK NETSUKE DEPICTING A GRIMACING MAN
LOT 240 - NE0423
Unsigned
Japan, late 17th to 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Moss, Paul (1990) The London Netsuke Fair and Convention Handbook, p. 61.
Wright, Douglas J.K. (Spring 2001), Auctions, International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 50.
Exhibited:
The London Netsuke Fair and Convention, 1990.
Boldly carved, somewhat reminiscent of a Hyottoko mask, the face contorted to one side with deeply carved wrinkles below the mouth and around the prominent frontal bone, one eye round and the other crescent-shaped, the small mouth with two buck teeth. Some red pigments are used for dramatic effect. The reverse with a large, vertically pierced himotoshi bar.
HEIGHT 6.3 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few tiny nicks, occasional light scratches.
Provenance: Ex-collection G.H. Hodgson, sold at Glendining’s, 1917, London. Ex-collection Michael and Hiroko Dean. Sotheby’s, 14 November 2000, London, lot 103 (sold for GBP 3,800). European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.
This mask netsuke was presented at the London Netsuke Fair and Convention in 1990, where it was shown at Joseph Kurstin’s lecture Early Netsuke. The handbook (edited by Paul Moss) dates the mask “probably late 17th century”.
Douglas J.K. Wright wrote on the present lot in his International Netsuke Society Journal article on the Sotheby’s auction where it was previously sold: “I loved this piece. There were signs of a signature much worn away. Paul Moss felt I was seeing strokes before my eyes, but I am adamant that one could make some of the scratches translatable and reading Tenkaichi. Also, I felt from the style it was by Deme Uman […].”
While P. Jacquesson has built one of the most important collections of mask netsuke recorded with many fantastic examples, this is arguably the masterpiece of the collection.
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.
