SANKO: A SUPERB AND RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF YAMAUBA WITH KINTOKI
SANKO: A SUPERB AND RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF YAMAUBA WITH KINTOKI
By Sanko, signed Sanko 三小
Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The mountain hag adorned with horns and fangs, lending her a demonic, yet brilliantly caricaturistic countenance. She is shown walking at a vigorous pace, her garment folds finely flowing in the wind, and she holds a gnarled staff in one hand and a sickle in the other. The plump and naked Kintoki is seated on her shoulder, facing the other way, and pulling at a rope with a dragonfly at the end. The backside with a fine patina and good, asymmetrical himotoshi. Signed on the inside of Yamauba's robe - SANKO - a highly sought after after Soken Kisho artist.
The abandoned son of a samurai Kintoki (also known as Kintaro) was taken up by Yamauba (literally meaning mountain witch) and grew up to be a prodigiously powerful child, cited in various legends and even fighting bears.
HEIGHT 6.5 cm
Condition: Superb condition, the ivory slightly worn with age cracks. Good patina.
Provenance: Dr. Jay Hopkins, Lynchburg VA.
Literature comparison:
Although they are very rare to come by, Sanko made about half a dozen variants of this subject, none being exactly the same and ranging in heights between 5.7 and 8.3 cm. For one example see Eskenazi (1993) Japanese Netsuke from the Carré collection, pp. 76-77, no. 62.
Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.
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SANKO: A SUPERB AND RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF YAMAUBA WITH KINTOKI
By Sanko, signed Sanko 三小
Japan, Osaka, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The mountain hag adorned with horns and fangs, lending her a demonic, yet brilliantly caricaturistic countenance. She is shown walking at a vigorous pace, her garment folds finely flowing in the wind, and she holds a gnarled staff in one hand and a sickle in the other. The plump and naked Kintoki is seated on her shoulder, facing the other way, and pulling at a rope with a dragonfly at the end. The backside with a fine patina and good, asymmetrical himotoshi. Signed on the inside of Yamauba's robe - SANKO - a highly sought after after Soken Kisho artist.
The abandoned son of a samurai Kintoki (also known as Kintaro) was taken up by Yamauba (literally meaning mountain witch) and grew up to be a prodigiously powerful child, cited in various legends and even fighting bears.
HEIGHT 6.5 cm
Condition: Superb condition, the ivory slightly worn with age cracks. Good patina.
Provenance: Dr. Jay Hopkins, Lynchburg VA.
Literature comparison:
Although they are very rare to come by, Sanko made about half a dozen variants of this subject, none being exactly the same and ranging in heights between 5.7 and 8.3 cm. For one example see Eskenazi (1993) Japanese Netsuke from the Carré collection, pp. 76-77, no. 62.
Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
