Sold for €9,750
including Buyer's Premium
By Masanao I, signed Masanao 正直
Japan, Yamada, Ise province, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Powerfully carved in motion, the mother holding its young in its lap, grabbing one leg and cushioning the head, the infant clinging onto its mother’s arm, altogether forming a compact composition. Each with neatly incised hairwork, beautifully worn with a deep patina. Natural himotoshi and signed to the underside MASANAO – clearly an early work, and considering the power of this remarkable carving, almost certainly by the first Masanao.
HEIGHT 3.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, appealingly worn. Old repairs to the toes of the right foot.
Provenance: A European private collection. Sotheby's, London, 16 November 1983, lot 61. A private collection in France, acquired from the above. Bonhams, 4 November 2020, lot 83. A private collection in Austria, acquired from the above.
In this remarkable study the carver strikes a delicate balance between tenderness and hostility. The pulling on the leg and almost audible screeching of the monkey indicates the mother is restraining her young, while the subtle placement of the hand below the young’s hand are indicative of her love. This is arguably one of the great masterworks of this somewhat misunderstood carver, who was the first of a lineage which lasts to this very day, his best carvings certainly holding up to those of the recognized great masters such as Tametaka, Masanao of Kyoto or Toyomasa.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related wood netsuke of a monkey restraining its young, by Masakazu, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 227, no. 701.
Museum comparison:
Compare a related later wood netsuke of a monkey and young, signed Masanao, dated 19th century, in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), New York, Accession number 91.1.1044.
By Masanao I, signed Masanao 正直
Japan, Yamada, Ise province, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Powerfully carved in motion, the mother holding its young in its lap, grabbing one leg and cushioning the head, the infant clinging onto its mother’s arm, altogether forming a compact composition. Each with neatly incised hairwork, beautifully worn with a deep patina. Natural himotoshi and signed to the underside MASANAO – clearly an early work, and considering the power of this remarkable carving, almost certainly by the first Masanao.
HEIGHT 3.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, appealingly worn. Old repairs to the toes of the right foot.
Provenance: A European private collection. Sotheby's, London, 16 November 1983, lot 61. A private collection in France, acquired from the above. Bonhams, 4 November 2020, lot 83. A private collection in Austria, acquired from the above.
In this remarkable study the carver strikes a delicate balance between tenderness and hostility. The pulling on the leg and almost audible screeching of the monkey indicates the mother is restraining her young, while the subtle placement of the hand below the young’s hand are indicative of her love. This is arguably one of the great masterworks of this somewhat misunderstood carver, who was the first of a lineage which lasts to this very day, his best carvings certainly holding up to those of the recognized great masters such as Tametaka, Masanao of Kyoto or Toyomasa.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related wood netsuke of a monkey restraining its young, by Masakazu, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 227, no. 701.
Museum comparison:
Compare a related later wood netsuke of a monkey and young, signed Masanao, dated 19th century, in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The MET), New York, Accession number 91.1.1044.
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