16th Apr, 2021 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
189
Ɏ A RARE EDO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF TAMATORI-HIME (‘PRINCESS JEWEL TAKER’)
Sold for €1,159
including Buyer's Premium
Unsigned
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Carved in sukashibori (openwork) with the ama holding the precious jewel (Menkai fuhai no tama) in one hand and a pearl knife in the other, as a fierce dragon approaches her, all amid scrolling and crashing waves. Two himotoshi to either side of one of the dragon’s legs to the underside.
HEIGHT 3.4 cm, LENGTH 4.6 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks and small natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Jury Kolodotschko.
Laura Miller writes, “[the] legend of Princess Tamatori (Tamatorihime), or Ama, developed around the historical figure Fujiwara no Kamatari (614–69), who was the founder of the powerful Fujiwara clan. Upon Kamatari’s death, the Tang dynasty emperor, who had received Kamatari’s beautiful daughter as a consort, sent three priceless treasures to Japan in order to comfort his grieving lover by honoring her father. One of the treasures, a pearl, was stolen by the dragon king during a storm on its way to Japan in the inlet of Fusazaki. Kamatari’s son Fujiwara no Fuhito (659–720) went in search of the pearl to the isolated area where he met and married a beautiful pearl diver named Ama, who bore him a son. Ama, full of love for their son, vowed to help recover the stolen pearl. After many failed attempts, Ama was finally successful when the dragon and grotesque creatures guarding it were lulled to sleep by music. Upon reclaiming the treasure, she came under pursuit by the awakened sea creatures. She cut open her breast to place the pearl inside for safekeeping the resulting flow of blood clouded the water and aided her escape. She died from the resulting wound but is revered for her selfless act of sacrifice for her husband Fuhito and their son.” (Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School, 2007, p. 137)
Literature comparison:
The fable of Tamatori-hime (‘Princess Jewel Taker’), was a favorite ukiyo-e subject of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, see for example a triptych in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number JP1564.
Unsigned
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Carved in sukashibori (openwork) with the ama holding the precious jewel (Menkai fuhai no tama) in one hand and a pearl knife in the other, as a fierce dragon approaches her, all amid scrolling and crashing waves. Two himotoshi to either side of one of the dragon’s legs to the underside.
HEIGHT 3.4 cm, LENGTH 4.6 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks and small natural age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection Jury Kolodotschko.
Laura Miller writes, “[the] legend of Princess Tamatori (Tamatorihime), or Ama, developed around the historical figure Fujiwara no Kamatari (614–69), who was the founder of the powerful Fujiwara clan. Upon Kamatari’s death, the Tang dynasty emperor, who had received Kamatari’s beautiful daughter as a consort, sent three priceless treasures to Japan in order to comfort his grieving lover by honoring her father. One of the treasures, a pearl, was stolen by the dragon king during a storm on its way to Japan in the inlet of Fusazaki. Kamatari’s son Fujiwara no Fuhito (659–720) went in search of the pearl to the isolated area where he met and married a beautiful pearl diver named Ama, who bore him a son. Ama, full of love for their son, vowed to help recover the stolen pearl. After many failed attempts, Ama was finally successful when the dragon and grotesque creatures guarding it were lulled to sleep by music. Upon reclaiming the treasure, she came under pursuit by the awakened sea creatures. She cut open her breast to place the pearl inside for safekeeping the resulting flow of blood clouded the water and aided her escape. She died from the resulting wound but is revered for her selfless act of sacrifice for her husband Fuhito and their son.” (Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School, 2007, p. 137)
Literature comparison:
The fable of Tamatori-hime (‘Princess Jewel Taker’), was a favorite ukiyo-e subject of Utagawa Kuniyoshi, see for example a triptych in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number JP1564.
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