Ɏ A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A DIVING GIRL, AMA

Lot details Unsigned Japan, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Ducros, Alain (1994) Netsuke & Sagemono, no. 67. An exquisite ivory netsuke depicting a diving/fisher girl (ama) holding an awabi shell suggestively in one hand, the other holding the cord of her straw skirt. Her long finely incised hair flows gently down her back and along one of her breasts as she looks to her left, invitingly smiling with her mouth slightly agape. Her straw skirt resembles a minogame’s tail and is, like her hair, treated with sumi ink. She lifts one foot ever so gently, lending movement to the composition. The ivory is beautifully worn with a beautiful honey-golden patina. Large, asymmetrical, and generously excavated himotoshi to the reverse. HEIGHT 7 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and light age cracks. Provenance: Eskenazi, April 1986. 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. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of an ama, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 28 (sold for EUR 9,480). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207508115-K).Unsigned Japan, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Ducros, Alain (1994) Netsuke & Sagemono, no. 67. An exquisite ivory netsuke depicting a diving/fisher girl (ama) holding an awabi shell suggestively in one hand, the other holding the cord of her straw skirt. Her long finely incised hair flows gently down her back and along one of her breasts as she looks to her left, invitingly smiling with her mouth slightly agape. Her straw skirt resembles a minogame’s tail and is, like her hair, treated with sumi ink. She lifts one foot ever so gently, lending movement to the composition. The ivory is beautifully worn with a beautiful honey-golden patina. Large, asymmetrical, and generously excavated himotoshi to the reverse. HEIGHT 7 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and light age cracks. Provenance: Eskenazi, April 1986. 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. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of an ama, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 28 (sold for EUR 9,480). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207508115-K).

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