28th Apr, 2023 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
162
KANMAN: AN EXCEPTIONAL AND LARGE KUROGAKI (BLACK PERSIMMON) WOOD NETSUKE OF A FROG ON A LOTUS LEAF
Sold for €8,596
including Buyer's Premium
By Kanman (1793-1859), signed Iwami no ju Kanman 石見住貫満 […] with kakihan
Japan, Iwami Province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Rokusho (1996), Vol. 20, p. 48, no. 59.
Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke, Vol. II, p. 278, no. 247.
Burditt, David (Spring 2000) The Iwami Carvers: Kanman, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1, p. 53, no. 15.
Superbly carved as a frog standing foursquare on a furled lotus leaf, its skin smooth at its back and detailed with ukibori warts elsewhere, the leaf meticulously carved with veins and venules in fine ukibori, the underside also well detailed and showing the attractive grain of the wood as well as the large asymmetrical himotoshi. Carved on the stem with the signature in partially worn ukibori characters Iwami no ju KANMAN […] with a kakihan.
LENGTH 11.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear and traces of use.
Provenance: Ex-collection Joe Kurstin. Ex-collection Robert S. Huthart, acquired from the above. Dr. M. Joseph ‘Joe’ Kurstin (1931-2021) was a prominent Miami ophthalmologist who arguably built one of the greatest netsuke collections of all time. He was known by netsuke and inro lovers worldwide and made many lifelong friends in this tight-knit community. He published several books and articles on the subject and generously lent his collection for exhibitions at the Yale University Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Epcot Center at Disney World, and The Tobacco and Salt Museum, Tokyo.
Kanman (1793-1859) was a Japanese netsuke carver of the Iwami school, which was founded by Seiyodo Tomiharu. Most of his work was designed in the first three decades of the 19th century. According to Anne Hull Grundy, "His netsuke [...] are extremely rare." David Burditt has described him as one of the greatest of the Iwami carvers. A hallmark of Kanman’s work is his understanding of the materials he uses. His woods demonstrate wonderful undercutting, deep incisions, copious ukibori, and detailed overall carving. By contrast, his horn netsuke show more restrained carving, but careful finishing and polishing so that their surfaces are smooth and glow with the sheen only such material can produce.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related dark wood netsuke of a toad on a lotus leaf by Kanman, illustrated in Gould, Irving (1987) The Gould Collection of Netsuke, p. 367.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related ebony netsuke of a frog on a lotus leaf by Tomiharu, 7.5 cm long, dated late 18th to early 19th century, at Bonhams, The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke Part I, 15 May 2019, London, lot 20 (sold for 11,312 GBP).
By Kanman (1793-1859), signed Iwami no ju Kanman 石見住貫満 […] with kakihan
Japan, Iwami Province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Rokusho (1996), Vol. 20, p. 48, no. 59.
Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke, Vol. II, p. 278, no. 247.
Burditt, David (Spring 2000) The Iwami Carvers: Kanman, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 20, No. 1, p. 53, no. 15.
Superbly carved as a frog standing foursquare on a furled lotus leaf, its skin smooth at its back and detailed with ukibori warts elsewhere, the leaf meticulously carved with veins and venules in fine ukibori, the underside also well detailed and showing the attractive grain of the wood as well as the large asymmetrical himotoshi. Carved on the stem with the signature in partially worn ukibori characters Iwami no ju KANMAN […] with a kakihan.
LENGTH 11.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with only minor wear and traces of use.
Provenance: Ex-collection Joe Kurstin. Ex-collection Robert S. Huthart, acquired from the above. Dr. M. Joseph ‘Joe’ Kurstin (1931-2021) was a prominent Miami ophthalmologist who arguably built one of the greatest netsuke collections of all time. He was known by netsuke and inro lovers worldwide and made many lifelong friends in this tight-knit community. He published several books and articles on the subject and generously lent his collection for exhibitions at the Yale University Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Epcot Center at Disney World, and The Tobacco and Salt Museum, Tokyo.
Kanman (1793-1859) was a Japanese netsuke carver of the Iwami school, which was founded by Seiyodo Tomiharu. Most of his work was designed in the first three decades of the 19th century. According to Anne Hull Grundy, "His netsuke [...] are extremely rare." David Burditt has described him as one of the greatest of the Iwami carvers. A hallmark of Kanman’s work is his understanding of the materials he uses. His woods demonstrate wonderful undercutting, deep incisions, copious ukibori, and detailed overall carving. By contrast, his horn netsuke show more restrained carving, but careful finishing and polishing so that their surfaces are smooth and glow with the sheen only such material can produce.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related dark wood netsuke of a toad on a lotus leaf by Kanman, illustrated in Gould, Irving (1987) The Gould Collection of Netsuke, p. 367.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related ebony netsuke of a frog on a lotus leaf by Tomiharu, 7.5 cm long, dated late 18th to early 19th century, at Bonhams, The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke Part I, 15 May 2019, London, lot 20 (sold for 11,312 GBP).
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