SUZUKI MASAKATSU: A MASTERFUL WOOD NETSUKE OF A BITCH WITH TWO PUPS
By Suzuki Masakatsu (active 1840-1899), signed Masakatsu 正勝 and kakihan
Japan, Ise-Yamada, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Malcolm Fairley Japanese Works of Art (2008) Netsuke from a Private European Collection, Part II, no. 26.
A masterful and precisely carved study of a reclining bitch with two pups, one of the pups suckling at the teats of its mother, the mother protectively placing a paw on its head and grooming the young pup in return. Another pup with piebald markings climbs up on the mother’s back, seeking attention. The pupils of all three are minutely inlaid in dark horn. The wood netsuke is clearly a symbol of motherly compassion. The fur coats are rendered with miniscule incisions, smoothly polished. The spine of the mother is expressed, and the rib cage is beautifully carved on the underside, which shows the many crisply carved legs and paws, one of the legs forming the natural himotoshi. Signed within a polished reserve MASAKATSU and kakihan.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection, acquired from Malcolm Fairley.
Literature comparison:
An almost identical netsuke (the only noticeable difference is that the mother licks the pup in the present netsuke) is featured on the cover of Eskenazi (1973) Japanese Netsuke formerly in the Collection of Dr Robert L Greene (see image comparison) and on p. 29, no. 64.
Auction comparison:
A related wood netsuke by Suzuki Masakatsu depicting a horse was sold by Christie’s, An important European Collection of Netsuke, 14 November 2001, London, lot 8 (sold for 13.152 GBP).
Lot details
By Suzuki Masakatsu (active 1840-1899), signed Masakatsu 正勝 and kakihan
Japan, Ise-Yamada, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Malcolm Fairley Japanese Works of Art (2008) Netsuke from a Private European Collection, Part II, no. 26.
A masterful and precisely carved study of a reclining bitch with two pups, one of the pups suckling at the teats of its mother, the mother protectively placing a paw on its head and grooming the young pup in return. Another pup with piebald markings climbs up on the mother’s back, seeking attention. The pupils of all three are minutely inlaid in dark horn. The wood netsuke is clearly a symbol of motherly compassion. The fur coats are rendered with miniscule incisions, smoothly polished. The spine of the mother is expressed, and the rib cage is beautifully carved on the underside, which shows the many crisply carved legs and paws, one of the legs forming the natural himotoshi. Signed within a polished reserve MASAKATSU and kakihan.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection, acquired from Malcolm Fairley.
Literature comparison:
An almost identical netsuke (the only noticeable difference is that the mother licks the pup in the present netsuke) is featured on the cover of Eskenazi (1973) Japanese Netsuke formerly in the Collection of Dr Robert L Greene (see image comparison) and on p. 29, no. 64.
Auction comparison:
A related wood netsuke by Suzuki Masakatsu depicting a horse was sold by Christie’s, An important European Collection of Netsuke, 14 November 2001, London, lot 8 (sold for 13.152 GBP).
Sale price
Time, Location
Auction House
By Suzuki Masakatsu (active 1840-1899), signed Masakatsu 正勝 and kakihan
Japan, Ise-Yamada, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Malcolm Fairley Japanese Works of Art (2008) Netsuke from a Private European Collection, Part II, no. 26.
A masterful and precisely carved study of a reclining bitch with two pups, one of the pups suckling at the teats of its mother, the mother protectively placing a paw on its head and grooming the young pup in return. Another pup with piebald markings climbs up on the mother’s back, seeking attention. The pupils of all three are minutely inlaid in dark horn. The wood netsuke is clearly a symbol of motherly compassion. The fur coats are rendered with miniscule incisions, smoothly polished. The spine of the mother is expressed, and the rib cage is beautifully carved on the underside, which shows the many crisply carved legs and paws, one of the legs forming the natural himotoshi. Signed within a polished reserve MASAKATSU and kakihan.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection, acquired from Malcolm Fairley.
Literature comparison:
An almost identical netsuke (the only noticeable difference is that the mother licks the pup in the present netsuke) is featured on the cover of Eskenazi (1973) Japanese Netsuke formerly in the Collection of Dr Robert L Greene (see image comparison) and on p. 29, no. 64.
Auction comparison:
A related wood netsuke by Suzuki Masakatsu depicting a horse was sold by Christie’s, An important European Collection of Netsuke, 14 November 2001, London, lot 8 (sold for 13.152 GBP).
Lot details
By Suzuki Masakatsu (active 1840-1899), signed Masakatsu 正勝 and kakihan
Japan, Ise-Yamada, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published: Malcolm Fairley Japanese Works of Art (2008) Netsuke from a Private European Collection, Part II, no. 26.
A masterful and precisely carved study of a reclining bitch with two pups, one of the pups suckling at the teats of its mother, the mother protectively placing a paw on its head and grooming the young pup in return. Another pup with piebald markings climbs up on the mother’s back, seeking attention. The pupils of all three are minutely inlaid in dark horn. The wood netsuke is clearly a symbol of motherly compassion. The fur coats are rendered with miniscule incisions, smoothly polished. The spine of the mother is expressed, and the rib cage is beautifully carved on the underside, which shows the many crisply carved legs and paws, one of the legs forming the natural himotoshi. Signed within a polished reserve MASAKATSU and kakihan.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: British collection, acquired from Malcolm Fairley.
Literature comparison:
An almost identical netsuke (the only noticeable difference is that the mother licks the pup in the present netsuke) is featured on the cover of Eskenazi (1973) Japanese Netsuke formerly in the Collection of Dr Robert L Greene (see image comparison) and on p. 29, no. 64.
Auction comparison:
A related wood netsuke by Suzuki Masakatsu depicting a horse was sold by Christie’s, An important European Collection of Netsuke, 14 November 2001, London, lot 8 (sold for 13.152 GBP).
Sale price
Time, Location
Auction House
