OZAKI KOKUSAI: A SUPERB ANTLER OBI-HASAMI NETSUKE DEPICTING A SHISHI-HEADED MONSTER
OZAKI KOKUSAI: A SUPERB ANTLER OBI-HASAMI NETSUKE DEPICTING A SHISHI-HEADED MONSTER
By Ozaki Kokusai (1835-1892), signed with the anchor seal of Kokusai which is heavily worn
Japan, Shiba, Tokyo, c. 1860-1880
The obi-hasami netsuke (made to be inserted into the obi/sash) carved as a peculiar mythical beast standing upright with long and slender anthropomorphic feet opening in the middle and joining at the bottom forming curls and two short upturned 'handle' arms. The head is carved as a stylized shishi with a curling mane and bushy brows, a reishi nose, inlaid eyes, and a grim expression. Two apertures at the corners of the mouth house a silk cord to which a small bone seal and a metal seal paste container is attached. The antler stained to an attractive caramel tone.
HEIGHT 10.9 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, few natural 'flaws' to the material as are to be expected.
Provenance: Alain Ducros, Paris, October 1987. Ex-collection Guy de Lasteyrie, acquired from the above. De Lasteyrie is a member of the Lasteyrie du Saillant family and is considered among the leading French collectors of netsuke.
The seal face of the carved miniature bone seal reads: Teraoka 寺岡, a common Japanese family name, indicating that this seal was for personal use.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke, also unsigned, in Eskenazi (1998) Japanese Netsuke, Ojime and Inro from a Private European Collection, p. 158-159, no. 194. Also compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 258-259, no. 219. Also compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai, particularly note the similarily stylized features of the head, in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 254-255, no. 217.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related antler obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai at Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 2035 (sold for USD 36,600).
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OZAKI KOKUSAI: A SUPERB ANTLER OBI-HASAMI NETSUKE DEPICTING A SHISHI-HEADED MONSTER
By Ozaki Kokusai (1835-1892), signed with the anchor seal of Kokusai which is heavily worn
Japan, Shiba, Tokyo, c. 1860-1880
The obi-hasami netsuke (made to be inserted into the obi/sash) carved as a peculiar mythical beast standing upright with long and slender anthropomorphic feet opening in the middle and joining at the bottom forming curls and two short upturned 'handle' arms. The head is carved as a stylized shishi with a curling mane and bushy brows, a reishi nose, inlaid eyes, and a grim expression. Two apertures at the corners of the mouth house a silk cord to which a small bone seal and a metal seal paste container is attached. The antler stained to an attractive caramel tone.
HEIGHT 10.9 cm
Condition: Excellent condition, few natural 'flaws' to the material as are to be expected.
Provenance: Alain Ducros, Paris, October 1987. Ex-collection Guy de Lasteyrie, acquired from the above. De Lasteyrie is a member of the Lasteyrie du Saillant family and is considered among the leading French collectors of netsuke.
The seal face of the carved miniature bone seal reads: Teraoka 寺岡, a common Japanese family name, indicating that this seal was for personal use.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke, also unsigned, in Eskenazi (1998) Japanese Netsuke, Ojime and Inro from a Private European Collection, p. 158-159, no. 194. Also compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 258-259, no. 219. Also compare a closely related obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai, particularly note the similarily stylized features of the head, in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, pp. 254-255, no. 217.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related antler obi-hasami netsuke by Ozaki Kokusai at Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 2035 (sold for USD 36,600).
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
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