MASAJO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX
MASAJO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX
By Masajo, signed Masajo 正女
Japan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A fine wood netsuke of a recumbent ox with one hoof slightly raised close to the body, the other three tucked neatly underneath for compactness. The hairwork is very finely incised and smoothly polished. The eye pupils are lacquered in black. Natural himotoshi through one hindleg, where also the signature MASAJO is located within a polished reserve.
Though Masajo hails from Nagoya (according to Ueda Reikichi), his carvings show similarities with Tsu-school works and his signature style indicates he may have been a pupil of Masanao of Ise-Yamada. The present netsuke shares characteristics of all three schools.
LENGTH 4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection.
Literature comparison:
Compare to an ox by Masanao of Yamada, illustrated in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, p. 210, no. 875.
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MASAJO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX
By Masajo, signed Masajo 正女
Japan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A fine wood netsuke of a recumbent ox with one hoof slightly raised close to the body, the other three tucked neatly underneath for compactness. The hairwork is very finely incised and smoothly polished. The eye pupils are lacquered in black. Natural himotoshi through one hindleg, where also the signature MASAJO is located within a polished reserve.
Though Masajo hails from Nagoya (according to Ueda Reikichi), his carvings show similarities with Tsu-school works and his signature style indicates he may have been a pupil of Masanao of Ise-Yamada. The present netsuke shares characteristics of all three schools.
LENGTH 4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection.
Literature comparison:
Compare to an ox by Masanao of Yamada, illustrated in Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art, p. 210, no. 875.
