9th May, 2025 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
48
YOYUSAI: A SUPERB AND RARE GOLD-INLAID FIVE-CASE GOLD LACQUER INRO DEPICTING RAIKO'S DREAM AND A DRUNKEN SHOJO
Sold for €2,860
including Buyer's Premium
By Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6), signed Yoyusai 羊遊斎 saku 作
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of upright and oval shape, bearing a beautiful and lustrous gold kinji ground, superbly lacquered in iro-e takamaki-e with hiramaki-e details, and inlaid with gold, showing two scenes set in a rectangular “scroll painting” kirigane frame. The verso shows the demonic earth spider in its web below Minamoto no Yorimitsu. The recto shows a sleeping shojo, visibly drunk, reclining behind a large red sake jar decorated with fine clouds, all below a towering pine tree. Signed to the underside YOYUSAI saku [made by Yoyusai]. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
With a fine green and gold glass ojime.
LENGTH 4.9 cm, HEIGHT 9.3 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear and typical losses to kirigane flakes.
Provenance: Christie's, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, London, lot 118 (sold for GBP 3,750).
Known as Raiko, Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948–1021) was a nobleman who worked with his associate Watanabe no Tsuna to rid Kyoto of its many demons. One night, a feverish Raiko believed he was being attacked by monsters and called for protection, but his attendants fell asleep, and Raiko was attacked by a giant earth spider. His weak cries and a trail of blood attracted Watanabe who used an uprooted tree trunk to kill the enormous spider. Once the spider was vanquished, Raiko made a full recovery.
Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6) lived in Edo and worked under the patronage of Lord Matsudaira.
Compare the woodblock triptych print, oban tate-e, depicting a related scene of the Earth Spider at the chambers of Minamoto no Yorimitsu, in the collection of the British Museum, London, accession number 2008,3037.20906.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related gold lacquer and metal-inlaid five-case inro by the same artist and signed Yoyusai saku, depicting the monk Saigyo at Mount Fuji at Christie's, Japanese Art and Design, 11 November 2008, London, lot 105 (sold for GBP 3,250). Also compare a related gold lacquer and metal-inlaid two-case inro by the same artist and signed Yoyusai saku, depicting mandarin ducks inlaid in gold, silver, copper and shakudo at Bonhams, Japanese Art and Design, 10 May 2011, London, lot 255 (sold for GBP 18,000).
By Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6), signed Yoyusai 羊遊斎 saku 作
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Of upright and oval shape, bearing a beautiful and lustrous gold kinji ground, superbly lacquered in iro-e takamaki-e with hiramaki-e details, and inlaid with gold, showing two scenes set in a rectangular “scroll painting” kirigane frame. The verso shows the demonic earth spider in its web below Minamoto no Yorimitsu. The recto shows a sleeping shojo, visibly drunk, reclining behind a large red sake jar decorated with fine clouds, all below a towering pine tree. Signed to the underside YOYUSAI saku [made by Yoyusai]. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.
With a fine green and gold glass ojime.
LENGTH 4.9 cm, HEIGHT 9.3 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear and typical losses to kirigane flakes.
Provenance: Christie's, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, London, lot 118 (sold for GBP 3,750).
Known as Raiko, Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948–1021) was a nobleman who worked with his associate Watanabe no Tsuna to rid Kyoto of its many demons. One night, a feverish Raiko believed he was being attacked by monsters and called for protection, but his attendants fell asleep, and Raiko was attacked by a giant earth spider. His weak cries and a trail of blood attracted Watanabe who used an uprooted tree trunk to kill the enormous spider. Once the spider was vanquished, Raiko made a full recovery.
Hara Yoyusai (1772-1845/6) lived in Edo and worked under the patronage of Lord Matsudaira.
Compare the woodblock triptych print, oban tate-e, depicting a related scene of the Earth Spider at the chambers of Minamoto no Yorimitsu, in the collection of the British Museum, London, accession number 2008,3037.20906.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related gold lacquer and metal-inlaid five-case inro by the same artist and signed Yoyusai saku, depicting the monk Saigyo at Mount Fuji at Christie's, Japanese Art and Design, 11 November 2008, London, lot 105 (sold for GBP 3,250). Also compare a related gold lacquer and metal-inlaid two-case inro by the same artist and signed Yoyusai saku, depicting mandarin ducks inlaid in gold, silver, copper and shakudo at Bonhams, Japanese Art and Design, 10 May 2011, London, lot 255 (sold for GBP 18,000).
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