UEDA KOHOSAI: AN EXCELLENT IVORY AND GOLD NETSUKE OF A FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUM

UEDA KOHOSAI: AN EXCELLENT IVORY AND GOLD NETSUKE OF A FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUM
By Ueda Kohosai (died 1907), signed Kohosai 公鳳齋
Japan, Osaka, late 19th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Finely carved as a flowering chrysanthemum, the petals carved naturalistically and overlapping each other. The central section is inlaid in gold, finely carved to resemble layers of pollen, cleverly serving as the removable cord attachment through the central himotoshi in the back. Signed KOHOSAI in partially erased characters.

DIAMETER 4.3 cm

Condition: Very good condition. There used to be a metal ring around the himotoshi in the back, which is now lost.
Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection.

Ueda Kohosai was a member of the Osaka school and probably close to Dosho(Sai) and Tetsugendu Kyusai, who carved similar flowers.

Literature comparison:
For two further floral compositions by the artist see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 356

Auction comparison:
For a similar netsuke by Tetsguendo Kyusai see Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke, 10 May 2017, London, lot 189 (sold for 6.250 GBP).
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