KO: A RARE STAG ANTLER NETSUKE WITH LIZARD AND VINE
KO: A RARE STAG ANTLER NETSUKE WITH LIZARD AND VINE
Signed with a single character Ko 光
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century
Published: Eskenazi (1993) Japanese Netsuke from the Carre collection, pp. 150- 151, no. 195.
Carved from a beautiful, choice piece of stag antler in manju shape. A vine grows out of a hole in the wall, while a lizard creeps over the surface, its long tail carved in motion similar to how the vine grows out. The lizard's eyes are inlaid in light horn. The reverse is carved with an image of a stylized, moon-shaped temple gong and a finely carved hossu (Buddhist fly wisk), which serves as the himotoshi. Signed within an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche with a single character KO.
LENGTH 4.3 cm
Condition: Very good, complete condition.
Provenance: Purchased at Sotheby's London, 16th July 1973, lot 72. Then collection Jacques H. Carre.
Literature comparison:
The single character Ko may suggest Koichi, as a similar netsuke with a lizard and with an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche is illustrated in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 274-275, no. 502.
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KO: A RARE STAG ANTLER NETSUKE WITH LIZARD AND VINE
Signed with a single character Ko 光
Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century
Published: Eskenazi (1993) Japanese Netsuke from the Carre collection, pp. 150- 151, no. 195.
Carved from a beautiful, choice piece of stag antler in manju shape. A vine grows out of a hole in the wall, while a lizard creeps over the surface, its long tail carved in motion similar to how the vine grows out. The lizard's eyes are inlaid in light horn. The reverse is carved with an image of a stylized, moon-shaped temple gong and a finely carved hossu (Buddhist fly wisk), which serves as the himotoshi. Signed within an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche with a single character KO.
LENGTH 4.3 cm
Condition: Very good, complete condition.
Provenance: Purchased at Sotheby's London, 16th July 1973, lot 72. Then collection Jacques H. Carre.
Literature comparison:
The single character Ko may suggest Koichi, as a similar netsuke with a lizard and with an inlaid mother-of-pearl cartouche is illustrated in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 274-275, no. 502.
