16th Apr, 2021 13:00

Fine Netsuke & Sagemono

 
  Lot 61
 

61

Ɏ A RARE NARWHAL TUSK NETSUKE OF A BAYING KIRIN, ATTRIBUTED TO GARAKU

Sold for €9,150

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details

Unsigned
Japan, Kyoto or Osaka, second half of 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Finely and powerfully carved as a kirin, pupils inlaid in dark horn, the body and neck turned backwards, the head and snout turned upwards and letting out a hearty roar. The flaming, bushy tail curls upwards and touches the kirin on the chin. The fatty tissue on the mythical animal’s haunches and the scales covering the body are neatly detailed. Asymmetrical himotoshi through the side and underside. The oban-shaped reserve to one of the hind legs is an invention of Garaku. Raymond Bushell writes, “Garaku preserved a section of the spirally grooved bark in the shape of an oban (gold coin) on which he carved his signature – an innovation – […] The signed oban-shaped reserve in narwhal is distinctively the work of Garaku of the Soken Kisho. Unsigned narwhal netsuke with this characteristic oban-shaped reserve, and otherwise consistent, may be attributed to Garaku with the utmost confidence.” (Collector’s Netsuke, 1971, p. 44).

HEIGHT 5 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with only minor surface wear and some tiny age cracks.
Provenance: European collection.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related netsuke by Mitsuharu at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 12 June 2019, Cologne, lot 2233 (sold for 25,800 EUR).

Literature comparison:
A related narwhal tusk netsuke attributed to Garaku I or II and depicting a herdboy and ox, with the same unsigned oban-shaped reserve as on the present netsuke, is illustrated in Moss (2008) Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On, p. 56-57, no. 20.


 

Unsigned
Japan, Kyoto or Osaka, second half of 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Finely and powerfully carved as a kirin, pupils inlaid in dark horn, the body and neck turned backwards, the head and snout turned upwards and letting out a hearty roar. The flaming, bushy tail curls upwards and touches the kirin on the chin. The fatty tissue on the mythical animal’s haunches and the scales covering the body are neatly detailed. Asymmetrical himotoshi through the side and underside. The oban-shaped reserve to one of the hind legs is an invention of Garaku. Raymond Bushell writes, “Garaku preserved a section of the spirally grooved bark in the shape of an oban (gold coin) on which he carved his signature – an innovation – […] The signed oban-shaped reserve in narwhal is distinctively the work of Garaku of the Soken Kisho. Unsigned narwhal netsuke with this characteristic oban-shaped reserve, and otherwise consistent, may be attributed to Garaku with the utmost confidence.” (Collector’s Netsuke, 1971, p. 44).

HEIGHT 5 cm

Condition: Excellent condition with only minor surface wear and some tiny age cracks.
Provenance: European collection.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related netsuke by Mitsuharu at Van Ham, Asiatische Kunst, 12 June 2019, Cologne, lot 2233 (sold for 25,800 EUR).

Literature comparison:
A related narwhal tusk netsuke attributed to Garaku I or II and depicting a herdboy and ox, with the same unsigned oban-shaped reserve as on the present netsuke, is illustrated in Moss (2008) Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On, p. 56-57, no. 20.


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