MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF GAMA SENNIN SEATED ON THE FROG GOD SEIAJIN
MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF GAMA SENNIN SEATED ON THE FROG GOD SEIAJIN
By a member of the Masanao family, signed Masanao 正直
Japan, Yamada, Ise province, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The immortal carved seated in a relaxed posture atop the gigantic three-legged toad with inlaid pupils and skillfully executed warty skin, the sennin wearing a long flowing robe and an artemisia leaf-skirt secured with a belt at the waist, his long hair parted in the center and falling neatly over the shoulders. Signed MASANAO to the underside.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: Collection Henry S. Trower, Somerset (1843-1912), sold at Glendining's, London, 31 March 1913, lot 167 (not illustrated). Estate of Albert Brockhaus (1855-1921), acquired at the above auction. Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 93 (sold EUR 6,100). A private collection, acquired from the above.
The Masanao family of carvers is well known for their netsuke depicting toads. However, the subject of Gama Sennin and the three-legged toad (seiajin, 'Frog God') is very rare for Masanao, the present treatment of the subject being almost unique.
Literature comparison:
For a similar wood netsuke by the same carver, depicting a reclining Gama Sennin with the three-legged toad crawling over his back, see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 450.
Auction comparison:
Compare with a related but later wood okimono depicting a similar toad surmounted by another smaller toad, signed Masanao and dated to the Meiji period, at Christie's, Art of Japan, 5 December 2017, London, lot 24 (sold for 3,250 GBP).
Bid on this lot
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
MASANAO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF GAMA SENNIN SEATED ON THE FROG GOD SEIAJIN
By a member of the Masanao family, signed Masanao 正直
Japan, Yamada, Ise province, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The immortal carved seated in a relaxed posture atop the gigantic three-legged toad with inlaid pupils and skillfully executed warty skin, the sennin wearing a long flowing robe and an artemisia leaf-skirt secured with a belt at the waist, his long hair parted in the center and falling neatly over the shoulders. Signed MASANAO to the underside.
HEIGHT 4.5 cm
Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: Collection Henry S. Trower, Somerset (1843-1912), sold at Glendining's, London, 31 March 1913, lot 167 (not illustrated). Estate of Albert Brockhaus (1855-1921), acquired at the above auction. Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 93 (sold EUR 6,100). A private collection, acquired from the above.
The Masanao family of carvers is well known for their netsuke depicting toads. However, the subject of Gama Sennin and the three-legged toad (seiajin, 'Frog God') is very rare for Masanao, the present treatment of the subject being almost unique.
Literature comparison:
For a similar wood netsuke by the same carver, depicting a reclining Gama Sennin with the three-legged toad crawling over his back, see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 450.
Auction comparison:
Compare with a related but later wood okimono depicting a similar toad surmounted by another smaller toad, signed Masanao and dated to the Meiji period, at Christie's, Art of Japan, 5 December 2017, London, lot 24 (sold for 3,250 GBP).
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
