A SUPERB AND LARGE IVORY NETSUKE OF A SENNIN WITH A MONKEY

A SUPERB AND LARGE IVORY NETSUKE OF A SENNIN WITH A MONKEY

Unsigned
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Carved standing tall with his head turned slightly to the left, dressed in a mugwort leaf cape and apron, the sennin clutches the stem of a blossoming peony in one hand, the other inelegantly holding a monkey by its leg, the puzzled primate holding tight, clutching the immortal's head with its hands and weaving the spare foot into the sennin's open hair. Generously excavated and asymmetrical himotoshi to the back. The ivory with a lustrous, naturally grown, honey-gold patina.

HEIGHT 13 cm

Condition: Remarkably well-preserved. Only very few age cracks and minor typical wear. Very good condition.
Provenance: Klefisch, Cologne, 14 November 1987, lot 793. Ex-collection Guy de Lasteyrie, acquired from the above. De Lasteyrie is a member of the Lasteyrie du Saillant family and is considered among the leading French collectors of netsuke.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of Gamma sennin, 18th century, 14 cm tall, at Bonhams, 17 September 2013, New York, lot 2072 (sold for USD 37,500). Note the closely related manner of carving to the mugwort leaf robe, similarily scrolling belt to the front, as well as the comical way the sennin holds the animal's trailing leg. Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a laughing sennin with a monkey, 18th century, 10.3 cm, at Lempertz, 14 June 2014, Cologne, lot 13 (sold for EUR 3,416).

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207506413-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.