MINKOKU: A LARGE SILVER NETSUKE OF AN OCTOPUS GRASPING A PIECE OF CORAL

MINKOKU: A LARGE SILVER NETSUKE OF AN OCTOPUS GRASPING A PIECE OF CORAL

By Minkoku, signed Minkoku 民国
Japan, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Fashioned as a silver octopus, with eyes inlaid in gilt and shakudo, grasping a long piece of coral with its tentacles. The octopus puckering its funnel shaped mouth together in deep concentration as one hand comically scratches the top of its head in wonder. The coral branch banded to the center and finished with a loop which doubles as the himotoshi. Signed to the side MINKOKU.

LENGTH 7.3 cm
WEIGHT 27.7 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and tiny hairlines.

Museum comparison:
Compare a closely related coral and silver netsuke of an octopus, formerly in the collection of Henry Walters, and now in The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, accession number 57.1344.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related coral and silver netsuke of an octopus, at Bonhams, Asian Decorative Arts, 18 October 2016, lot 9009 (sold for USD 3,750).

Ikedo Minkoku (1828-1916) is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on pp. 1042 (H 05096.0) along with his first son Ikedo Minkoku (1854-1918) (H 05097.0) and adopted grandson Ikedo Minkoku (1869-1939) (H 05098.0), who became the third Minkoku. Minkoku (1828-1916) was born in Edo, the second son and heir of Someya Chomin. In 1840, he was a student of Kobara Shinnosuke (H 08652) and a student of Kono Haruaki (H 00760). He is considered the fourth master of the Someya family school. Primarily a kanamono artist, he also made sword fittings, mostly to order. He set up his business in 1853 and had sons and students who carried on his business until 1939.