A KYOTO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A FRIGHTENED RECLINING BOAR, SIGNED TOMOTADA

A KYOTO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A FRIGHTENED RECLINING BOAR, SIGNED TOMOTADA

Signed Tomotada 友忠
Japan, Kyoto, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Expressively carved as a pleasingly tactile and compact netsuke of a recumbent boar sitting on its haunches, eyes alert as it looks over its shoulder for potential dangers with the limbs tucked snug underneath. The head carved with wide eyes with inlaid pupils, an upturned snout, its mouth agape revealing long, sharp incisors, the top with a tuft of scrolling hair, and the ears to the side wary of approaching danger. Generously excavated himotoshi to the base and signed Tomotada within a raised, oval reserve, though much more likely by the Okatomo studio. The ivory attractively stained and with a deep caramel honey-yellow patina throughout.

LENGTH 5 cm

Condition: Very good condition with surface wear and several natural age cracks.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. Austrian private collection, acquired from the above.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related netsuke of a reclining boar, by Okatomo, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, no. 196.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a running wild boar, style of Okatomo, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from the Adrienne Barbanson Collection, 13 May 2013, lot 25 (sold for 16,250 GBP). Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of running wild board, style of Okatomo, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from the Adrienne Barbanson Collection, 13 May 2013, lot 23 (sold for GBP 4,000).

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207512277-K).

This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.