9th May, 2025 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
27
KOMA YASUTADA: A SUPERB THREE-CASE BLACK AND GOLD LACQUER INRO
Sold for €2,080
including Buyer's Premium
Lineage of Koma Yasutada, signed Koma Yasutada 古満 安匡 saku 作
Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of upright rectangular shape, the three-case inro bearing a fine roiro ground, decorated in gold, black and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, togidashi-e, e-nashiji, and with some kirigane. The front depicts Kumagai Naozane pensively looking at Atsumori’s kabuto, the verso with two warriors seated below a horse. Signed to the underside KOMA YASUTADA saku [made by Koma Yasutada]. The interior of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
With a carved walnut ojime and a kagamibuta netsuke, the bowl decorated with takamaki-e peonies and the lid depicting a sumi-togidashi-e shishi in the manner of a Kano school painting.
LENGTH 6.2 cm, HEIGHT 8 cm
Condition: The inro in very good condition with nibbles to edges, minor wear and traces of use. The netsuke with some light rubbing and losses to gold foil inlays.
Provenance: Ex-collection W. L. Behrens (1861-1913). A private collection in Southern Europe. With an old auction label.
In The Tale of the Heike, during Yoshitsune's attack at Ichi-no-Tani, the Taira clan scattered. Kumagai no Jiro Naozane, scanning the beach, spotted young Atsumori swimming towards escaping vessels. Beckoning him with a fan, Kumagai taunted Atsumori for showing his back to the enemy. They grappled on the beach, and Kumagai, stronger, pinned him to the ground, knocking off his helmet; however, he was moved by the beauty of the young boy, the same age as his son. Kumagai, aware that other Minamoto warriors would likely kill him, decided to be the one to end Atsumori's life. In tears, he beheaded the youth, reasoning it was better if he killed Atsumori, because he could offer prayers on his behalf for his afterlife. It is said that the beheading of Atsumori is what led Kumagai to take priestly vows and become a Buddhist monk. The present inro shows the aftermath of this scene, depicting Kumagai Naozane pensively looking at Atsumori’s kabuto.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related three-case lacquer inro by the same artist, signed Koma Yasutada saku, at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9 November 2016, London, lot 273 (sold for GBP 3,840).
Lineage of Koma Yasutada, signed Koma Yasutada 古満 安匡 saku 作
Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of upright rectangular shape, the three-case inro bearing a fine roiro ground, decorated in gold, black and silver takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, togidashi-e, e-nashiji, and with some kirigane. The front depicts Kumagai Naozane pensively looking at Atsumori’s kabuto, the verso with two warriors seated below a horse. Signed to the underside KOMA YASUTADA saku [made by Koma Yasutada]. The interior of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
With a carved walnut ojime and a kagamibuta netsuke, the bowl decorated with takamaki-e peonies and the lid depicting a sumi-togidashi-e shishi in the manner of a Kano school painting.
LENGTH 6.2 cm, HEIGHT 8 cm
Condition: The inro in very good condition with nibbles to edges, minor wear and traces of use. The netsuke with some light rubbing and losses to gold foil inlays.
Provenance: Ex-collection W. L. Behrens (1861-1913). A private collection in Southern Europe. With an old auction label.
In The Tale of the Heike, during Yoshitsune's attack at Ichi-no-Tani, the Taira clan scattered. Kumagai no Jiro Naozane, scanning the beach, spotted young Atsumori swimming towards escaping vessels. Beckoning him with a fan, Kumagai taunted Atsumori for showing his back to the enemy. They grappled on the beach, and Kumagai, stronger, pinned him to the ground, knocking off his helmet; however, he was moved by the beauty of the young boy, the same age as his son. Kumagai, aware that other Minamoto warriors would likely kill him, decided to be the one to end Atsumori's life. In tears, he beheaded the youth, reasoning it was better if he killed Atsumori, because he could offer prayers on his behalf for his afterlife. It is said that the beheading of Atsumori is what led Kumagai to take priestly vows and become a Buddhist monk. The present inro shows the aftermath of this scene, depicting Kumagai Naozane pensively looking at Atsumori’s kabuto.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related three-case lacquer inro by the same artist, signed Koma Yasutada saku, at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9 November 2016, London, lot 273 (sold for GBP 3,840).
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