IKKOSAI: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF TWO MONKEYS FIGHTING AN OCTOPUS

IKKOSAI: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF TWO MONKEYS FIGHTING AN OCTOPUS

By 'Saru' Ikkosai, signed Ikkosai 一光齋
Japan, Tokyo, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Finely carved, partially in sukashibori (openwork), depicting two monkeys and an octopus engaged in a vicious fight, the octopus writhing its tentacles around the monkeys, the simians struggling to compete. The bulging eyes of the octopus are inlaid in dark horn and the hairwork of the monkeys is finely incised providing an appealing contrast to the smooth, tactile texture of the octopus's slippery skin. Many options for 'natural' himotoshi due to the openworked and dynamic nature of the piece, one of the tentacles with the signature IKKOSAI to the underside.

LENGTH 4 cm

Condition: Very good condition with only minor surface wear.
Provenance: Old German private collection, sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 4 November 2022, Vienna, lot 140 (sold for EUR 3,220).

'Saru' Ikkosai carved several of these, each one distinctly different, however. As opposed to the closely related netsuke sold at Lempertz on 7 June 2019, our monkeys are clearly losing the fight, the octopus having them completely entangled in its tentacles.

The subject of monkeys fighting an octopus references a legend in which the octopus-physician of Ryujin, the Dragon King of the Sea, prescribes a monkey's liver to heal the king's daughter.

For a detailed discussion of the artist see INSJ Vol. 39, no. 3, Fall 2019, pp. 29-34.

Auction comparison:
Compare with a closely related ivory netsuke by Ikkosai, depicting an octopus fighting two monkeys, at Lempertz, Japanische Kunst, 7 June 2019, Cologne, lot 426 (sold for 7,192 EUR). Compare with another closely related ivory netsuke by Ikkosai, depicting a monkey fighting an octopus, sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 202 (sold for 7,584 EUR).

Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 22-B-0529).

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.