MASASADA: A POWERFUL AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF RAIJIN WITH DRUM
By Masasada (Masakazu), signed Masakazu 昌貞
Japan, probably Tanba, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A powerful wood netsuke of the thunder god Raijin squatting, wearing a large drum strapped to his back and holding a geta with both hands in front of him. The oni-like deity is portrayed with a boldly carved muscular body and well-defined anatomy. In contrast, his facial features are humoristic, animated and imbued with originality and character – very typical for this rare artist. Raijin has inlaid ivory horns and fangs, and the studs on the drum and his eyes are inlaid in horn. Unusually, he has an inlaid ear plug to one ear, presumably to protect himself from the sound of the roaring thunder. Good himotoshi through the deity’s back and underside and the signature in a rectangular reserve underneath - MASAKAZU, however the artist is known as Masasada 昌貟.
HEIGHT 3.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, very good patina.
Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 16th March 1983, lot 56. Ex Skiersobolski collection, sold at Bernaerts auction, Antwerp, 13th December 2010, lot 124. Then Jacques H. Carré collection.
Literature & Auction comparison:
For a similar model of a Raijin see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 430. For a discussion on the artist see International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 22-26, where Jay Hopkins suggests that the artist is probably of Tanba origin.
For a model of a tengu by this rare artist see Lempertz, Asiatische Kunst, 5 December 2015, Cologne, lot 761 (sold for 9.300 EUR).
Lot details
By Masasada (Masakazu), signed Masakazu 昌貞
Japan, probably Tanba, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A powerful wood netsuke of the thunder god Raijin squatting, wearing a large drum strapped to his back and holding a geta with both hands in front of him. The oni-like deity is portrayed with a boldly carved muscular body and well-defined anatomy. In contrast, his facial features are humoristic, animated and imbued with originality and character – very typical for this rare artist. Raijin has inlaid ivory horns and fangs, and the studs on the drum and his eyes are inlaid in horn. Unusually, he has an inlaid ear plug to one ear, presumably to protect himself from the sound of the roaring thunder. Good himotoshi through the deity’s back and underside and the signature in a rectangular reserve underneath - MASAKAZU, however the artist is known as Masasada 昌貟.
HEIGHT 3.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, very good patina.
Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 16th March 1983, lot 56. Ex Skiersobolski collection, sold at Bernaerts auction, Antwerp, 13th December 2010, lot 124. Then Jacques H. Carré collection.
Literature & Auction comparison:
For a similar model of a Raijin see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 430. For a discussion on the artist see International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 22-26, where Jay Hopkins suggests that the artist is probably of Tanba origin.
For a model of a tengu by this rare artist see Lempertz, Asiatische Kunst, 5 December 2015, Cologne, lot 761 (sold for 9.300 EUR).
Sale price
Time, Location
Auction House
By Masasada (Masakazu), signed Masakazu 昌貞
Japan, probably Tanba, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A powerful wood netsuke of the thunder god Raijin squatting, wearing a large drum strapped to his back and holding a geta with both hands in front of him. The oni-like deity is portrayed with a boldly carved muscular body and well-defined anatomy. In contrast, his facial features are humoristic, animated and imbued with originality and character – very typical for this rare artist. Raijin has inlaid ivory horns and fangs, and the studs on the drum and his eyes are inlaid in horn. Unusually, he has an inlaid ear plug to one ear, presumably to protect himself from the sound of the roaring thunder. Good himotoshi through the deity’s back and underside and the signature in a rectangular reserve underneath - MASAKAZU, however the artist is known as Masasada 昌貟.
HEIGHT 3.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, very good patina.
Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 16th March 1983, lot 56. Ex Skiersobolski collection, sold at Bernaerts auction, Antwerp, 13th December 2010, lot 124. Then Jacques H. Carré collection.
Literature & Auction comparison:
For a similar model of a Raijin see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 430. For a discussion on the artist see International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 22-26, where Jay Hopkins suggests that the artist is probably of Tanba origin.
For a model of a tengu by this rare artist see Lempertz, Asiatische Kunst, 5 December 2015, Cologne, lot 761 (sold for 9.300 EUR).
Lot details
By Masasada (Masakazu), signed Masakazu 昌貞
Japan, probably Tanba, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A powerful wood netsuke of the thunder god Raijin squatting, wearing a large drum strapped to his back and holding a geta with both hands in front of him. The oni-like deity is portrayed with a boldly carved muscular body and well-defined anatomy. In contrast, his facial features are humoristic, animated and imbued with originality and character – very typical for this rare artist. Raijin has inlaid ivory horns and fangs, and the studs on the drum and his eyes are inlaid in horn. Unusually, he has an inlaid ear plug to one ear, presumably to protect himself from the sound of the roaring thunder. Good himotoshi through the deity’s back and underside and the signature in a rectangular reserve underneath - MASAKAZU, however the artist is known as Masasada 昌貟.
HEIGHT 3.1 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, very good patina.
Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 16th March 1983, lot 56. Ex Skiersobolski collection, sold at Bernaerts auction, Antwerp, 13th December 2010, lot 124. Then Jacques H. Carré collection.
Literature & Auction comparison:
For a similar model of a Raijin see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 430. For a discussion on the artist see International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 22-26, where Jay Hopkins suggests that the artist is probably of Tanba origin.
For a model of a tengu by this rare artist see Lempertz, Asiatische Kunst, 5 December 2015, Cologne, lot 761 (sold for 9.300 EUR).
Sale price
Time, Location
Auction House
