Sold for €10,400
including Buyer's Premium
By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山
Japan, Iwashiro province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 241.
Highly polished, the wood of a dark, rich, chocolate-brown tone, superbly carved in high relief with a continuous scene of a dragon frolicking among swirling clouds, the face with a determined expression as it pursues the object of its desires – the illustrious magical tama pearl - the eyes with silver-rimmed, dark horn pupils, all against a masterfully worked ishime ground. The sinuous body and curving flames indicating furious movement. The design trailing over the top and base. Signed to the underside within an oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN.
HEIGHT 8.2 cm, LENGTH 7.2 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Old repair to the nose and two claws near the cord hole.
Provenance: Ex-collection Mark T. Hindson (1883-1968). Sold at Sotheby’s London, 20 October 1969, lot 1321.
Hidari Issan is a noteworthy and highly regarded netsuke carver, not least by Frederick Meinertzhagen who ranked him among the best, alongside Toyomasa, Tadatoshi, and Ikkan. In praise of the present lot, Meinertzhagen notes “a remarkably fine example of Ichizan’s work, treated with power and spirit”. For a discussion and illustrations of pale wood inro carved with a pair of dragons by Hidari Issan, see Else and Heinz Kress (2013) Carved by Hidari Issan: Powerful Dragons among Clouds and Waves, INSJ 33/1, p. 46-50. The carver seems to have enjoyed producing the billowing clouds and twisted flames indicating the aggressive speed of these magnificent mythical creatures. It is rather uncommon to find such a boldly carved and stained example.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a coiled dragon which would be a beautiful match to the present inro, by Hidari Issan, c. 1840, 4.3 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 148 (sold for EUR 9,100). Compare a related three-case wood inro of a tortoise with similar eyes inlaid in dark horn with gilt metal surrounds, by Hidari Issan, early 19th century, 8 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 3 May 2024, Vienna, lot 321 (sold for EUR 7,150).
By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山
Japan, Iwashiro province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 241.
Highly polished, the wood of a dark, rich, chocolate-brown tone, superbly carved in high relief with a continuous scene of a dragon frolicking among swirling clouds, the face with a determined expression as it pursues the object of its desires – the illustrious magical tama pearl - the eyes with silver-rimmed, dark horn pupils, all against a masterfully worked ishime ground. The sinuous body and curving flames indicating furious movement. The design trailing over the top and base. Signed to the underside within an oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN.
HEIGHT 8.2 cm, LENGTH 7.2 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Old repair to the nose and two claws near the cord hole.
Provenance: Ex-collection Mark T. Hindson (1883-1968). Sold at Sotheby’s London, 20 October 1969, lot 1321.
Hidari Issan is a noteworthy and highly regarded netsuke carver, not least by Frederick Meinertzhagen who ranked him among the best, alongside Toyomasa, Tadatoshi, and Ikkan. In praise of the present lot, Meinertzhagen notes “a remarkably fine example of Ichizan’s work, treated with power and spirit”. For a discussion and illustrations of pale wood inro carved with a pair of dragons by Hidari Issan, see Else and Heinz Kress (2013) Carved by Hidari Issan: Powerful Dragons among Clouds and Waves, INSJ 33/1, p. 46-50. The carver seems to have enjoyed producing the billowing clouds and twisted flames indicating the aggressive speed of these magnificent mythical creatures. It is rather uncommon to find such a boldly carved and stained example.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a coiled dragon which would be a beautiful match to the present inro, by Hidari Issan, c. 1840, 4.3 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 148 (sold for EUR 9,100). Compare a related three-case wood inro of a tortoise with similar eyes inlaid in dark horn with gilt metal surrounds, by Hidari Issan, early 19th century, 8 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 3 May 2024, Vienna, lot 321 (sold for EUR 7,150).
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