ITTOKUSAI: A SUPERB AND LARGE WOOD GIGAKU MASK NETSUKE OF KARURA (GARUDA)
ITTOKUSAI: A SUPERB AND LARGE WOOD GIGAKU MASK NETSUKE OF KARURA (GARUDA)
By Ittokusai, signed Ittokusai 一得齋
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 82, no. 65.
Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, p. 14, pl. 6.
The International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 5, no. 3, p. 16, fig. 1.
Boldly carved, the beaked face staring straight ahead with hollowed pupils on bulging eyes, a small ball enclosed in its mouth, the forehead with a beaded design in relief, and the cheeks covered in wattle-like crests. The half-bird, half-human creature is a representation of the divine bird of Buddhist lore, Garuda. Himotoshi through the central bar to the back and signed ITTOKUSAI.
HEIGHT 5.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Sotheby's, Netsuke from the Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell, 18 November 1999, London, lot 150. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.
In Indian mythology, the Kakura (Garuda) was a sacred bird that ate the poisonous snake. When this deity was taken into Buddhism, it became one of the gods who guard the Buddhist faith.
Gigaku was the traditional music theatre, performed in silent mime, of the Japanese Court from the 7th to 10th centuries. Introduced in 612 from Korea, Gigaku reached great popularity in the Nara period (710‑794). Gigaku is a combination of Togaku, derived from China during the Tang dynasty, Komagaku from Korea, and original Japanese music.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related mask netsuke of Sojobo, by Ittokusai, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 254. Also compare a related wood mask netsuke of Kitsune, by Ittokusai, illustrated in Jirka-Schmitz Patrizia, The World of Netsuke, The Werdelmann Collection at the Museum Kunst Palast Duesseldorf, p. 216, no. 941.
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ITTOKUSAI: A SUPERB AND LARGE WOOD GIGAKU MASK NETSUKE OF KARURA (GARUDA)
By Ittokusai, signed Ittokusai 一得齋
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 82, no. 65.
Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, p. 14, pl. 6.
The International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 5, no. 3, p. 16, fig. 1.
Boldly carved, the beaked face staring straight ahead with hollowed pupils on bulging eyes, a small ball enclosed in its mouth, the forehead with a beaded design in relief, and the cheeks covered in wattle-like crests. The half-bird, half-human creature is a representation of the divine bird of Buddhist lore, Garuda. Himotoshi through the central bar to the back and signed ITTOKUSAI.
HEIGHT 5.8 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear.
Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Sotheby's, Netsuke from the Collection of Raymond and Frances Bushell, 18 November 1999, London, lot 150. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.
In Indian mythology, the Kakura (Garuda) was a sacred bird that ate the poisonous snake. When this deity was taken into Buddhism, it became one of the gods who guard the Buddhist faith.
Gigaku was the traditional music theatre, performed in silent mime, of the Japanese Court from the 7th to 10th centuries. Introduced in 612 from Korea, Gigaku reached great popularity in the Nara period (710‑794). Gigaku is a combination of Togaku, derived from China during the Tang dynasty, Komagaku from Korea, and original Japanese music.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related mask netsuke of Sojobo, by Ittokusai, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 254. Also compare a related wood mask netsuke of Kitsune, by Ittokusai, illustrated in Jirka-Schmitz Patrizia, The World of Netsuke, The Werdelmann Collection at the Museum Kunst Palast Duesseldorf, p. 216, no. 941.
Sale price
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
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