28th Apr, 2023 13:00

Fine Netsuke & Sagemono

 
  Lot 6
 

6

Ɏ ISSAI: A RARE NARWHAL TUSK NETSUKE OF KADORI MYOJIN TAMING THE NAMAZU

Sold for €1,820

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details

By Ogawasara Issai, signed Issai 一齋
Japan, Wakayama, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Superbly carved from a circular cross-section of a narwhal tusk as Kadori Myojin, clad in a fundoshi, placing his gigantic hyotan (double gourd) on a namazu, trying to tame the mythical catfish. The namazu’s eyes are inlays black wood. The typical outer bark-like rind is visible on the edges of the netsuke and the other side shows the typical beautiful marbling and striations of this coveted material. Himotoshi through the underside and inside of the namazu and signed underneath ISSAI.

LENGTH 4.6 cm

Condition: The right arm restored. Some tiny repairs and losses to exposed areas. Otherwise, fine condition with minor wear and few natural age cracks.
Provenance: From the collection of the German conductor Ferdinand Leitner (1912–1996), purchased from Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, in 1972 (copy of the original invoice available). Leitner studied under Franz Schreker, Julius Prüwer, Artur Schnabel and Karl Muck. Among his more than 300 recordings is a celebrated recording of Ferruccio Busoni's Doktor Faust. He also conducted the Berlin Philharmonic for Wilhelm Kempff's 1961 cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos.

Ogawasara Issai, mentioned in the Soken Kisho of 1781, was said to be one of the most famous carvers of his time, his work much in demand and difficult to obtain even during his lifetime. His works are rarely signed and he excelled in the use of marine and narwhal tusk.

Legend has it that certain types of catfish (namazu) are responsible for the earthquakes that plague the islands of Japan. When aroused, these creatures would contort their bodies in such a way that gigantic tremors shook the area for miles and miles. The Shinto deity Kadori Myojin usually attempts to prevent such catastrophes with the help of his magic gourd.

 

By Ogawasara Issai, signed Issai 一齋
Japan, Wakayama, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Superbly carved from a circular cross-section of a narwhal tusk as Kadori Myojin, clad in a fundoshi, placing his gigantic hyotan (double gourd) on a namazu, trying to tame the mythical catfish. The namazu’s eyes are inlays black wood. The typical outer bark-like rind is visible on the edges of the netsuke and the other side shows the typical beautiful marbling and striations of this coveted material. Himotoshi through the underside and inside of the namazu and signed underneath ISSAI.

LENGTH 4.6 cm

Condition: The right arm restored. Some tiny repairs and losses to exposed areas. Otherwise, fine condition with minor wear and few natural age cracks.
Provenance: From the collection of the German conductor Ferdinand Leitner (1912–1996), purchased from Kunsthaus Lempertz, Cologne, in 1972 (copy of the original invoice available). Leitner studied under Franz Schreker, Julius Prüwer, Artur Schnabel and Karl Muck. Among his more than 300 recordings is a celebrated recording of Ferruccio Busoni's Doktor Faust. He also conducted the Berlin Philharmonic for Wilhelm Kempff's 1961 cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos.

Ogawasara Issai, mentioned in the Soken Kisho of 1781, was said to be one of the most famous carvers of his time, his work much in demand and difficult to obtain even during his lifetime. His works are rarely signed and he excelled in the use of marine and narwhal tusk.

Legend has it that certain types of catfish (namazu) are responsible for the earthquakes that plague the islands of Japan. When aroused, these creatures would contort their bodies in such a way that gigantic tremors shook the area for miles and miles. The Shinto deity Kadori Myojin usually attempts to prevent such catastrophes with the help of his magic gourd.

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