A LARGE WOOD NETSUKE OF TWO PUPPIES
A LARGE WOOD NETSUKE OF TWO PUPPIES
Unsigned
Japan, Nagoya/Yamada, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A larger than usual netsuke, well carved as two young dogs playfully wrestling, one snarling with the open mouth revealing tongue and teeth, both with eyes inlaid in dark horn and finely incised fur. Natural himotoshi underneath one of the puppy's legs.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks, and a natural age crack to one leg.
Provenance: A private collection in Berlin, Germany, acquired from Ruth Schmidt, Berlin, 1992 (by repute).
Literature comparison:
A closely related netsuke, signed Ittan, is illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 528.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related but considerably smaller netsuke, signed Ittan, at Lempertz, Armour, Netsuke, Inro, Sagemono incl. The Papp Collection II, 7 December 2018, Cologne, lot 490 (sold for EUR 2,125).
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
A LARGE WOOD NETSUKE OF TWO PUPPIES
Unsigned
Japan, Nagoya/Yamada, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A larger than usual netsuke, well carved as two young dogs playfully wrestling, one snarling with the open mouth revealing tongue and teeth, both with eyes inlaid in dark horn and finely incised fur. Natural himotoshi underneath one of the puppy's legs.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few minuscule nicks, and a natural age crack to one leg.
Provenance: A private collection in Berlin, Germany, acquired from Ruth Schmidt, Berlin, 1992 (by repute).
Literature comparison:
A closely related netsuke, signed Ittan, is illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 528.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related but considerably smaller netsuke, signed Ittan, at Lempertz, Armour, Netsuke, Inro, Sagemono incl. The Papp Collection II, 7 December 2018, Cologne, lot 490 (sold for EUR 2,125).
