KAIGYOKUDO MASATERU: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A COCKEREL AND A HEN

KAIGYOKUDO MASATERU: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A COCKEREL AND A HEN

By Kaigyokudo Masateru, signed Kaigyokudo 懐玉堂
Japan, Osaka, late 19th century

Superbly carved as a rooster (tori) and hen resting on the leaves of a large cabbage, the hen with its head lowered and pecking at the ground. Both birds huddled together and depicted with masterfully incised plumage and eyes double inlaid in pale horn with dark horn pupils. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside and signed KAIGYOKUDO.

LENGTH 3.8 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear and a fine age crack underneath. A tiny, smoothened chip to the edge of one leaf.

Kaigyokudo Masateru was the son of Masachika and grandson of Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892). Although he was influenced by his grandfather's work which was mostly of ivory, he favored boxwood as his medium and developed his own style.

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a cockerel and hen, by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu, signed Kaigyoku, in Barry Davies Oriental Art (1998) The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Non-Iwami Netsuke, p. 62, no. 46.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a family of chickens by the same artist, signed Kaigyokudo, described as being either by Kaigyokusai Masatsugu or by Kaigyokudo Masateru, at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke, Part III, 6 November 2018, London, lot 90 (sold for GBP 5,500).