Until 31st Dec, 2025
Buy it now
TOMOTSUNE: A SUPERB NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A HEN WITH TWO CHICKS
Lot 179 - NE0525
By Tomotsune, signed Tomotsune 友常
Japan, Nagoya, c. 1800, Edo period (1615-1868)
The brooding hen squatting, her head sharply turned to the left as she glares at her mischievous chick who precariously balances on the edge of her wing, a second chick safely tucked under her thick plumage, poking its head out inquisitively. The mother hen with carefully incised plumage, brushed comb, and clawed feet. All eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The cord attachment formed by the joined feet underneath and signed within a polished oval reserve TOMOTSUNE.
LENGTH 4.6 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and an appealing worn patina.
Provenance: Christie’s, Fine Japanese Ivories, Lacquer, Bronzes, Prints and Other Works of Art, 1 October 1974, London, lot 56 (sold for Gns. 400 or approx. EUR 7,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Eskenazi Ltd., acquired from the above. An important private collection in Europe, acquired from the above.
Literature comparison:
This clearly very talented artist has only very few works recorded. Fuld’s Netsuke and Ojime Index lists only three other netsuke by Tomotsune. A wood netsuke of a shojo, carved in the Nagoya style and dated early 19th century, is illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 925.
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
How to Buy Online
You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.
Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium.
If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.
Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.
How to Buy Offline
If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
