9th May, 2025 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
163
Ɏ A MASTERFUL AND RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF KOSHOHEI’S GOAT, ATTRIBUTED TO KAIGYOKUSAI MASATSUGU
€20,000
€40,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
Attributed to Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892), unsigned
Japan, Osaka, second half of the 19th century
Published:
Joly, Henri L. (1912) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, no. 1283 and illustrated on pl. XXIV.
Weber, V. -F. (1965), Koji Hoten, illustrated on pl. XXXII, no. 9. (La Chevre de Koshohei).
Zacke (1985) Netsuke und Inro aus Japan, no. 38 and illustrated on the cover.
A masterfully carved, gem-like ivory netsuke, sculpted from pure-white tokata ivory and enhanced with sumi for striking contrast, depicting a goat caught mid-transformation, referencing the legend of Koshohei, who wielded the power to turn rocks into goats. The mythical creature’s fur is rendered with exceptional detail, its short beard grazing the rock beneath. Ingeniously, the craggy texture of the stone seamlessly merges with the finely incised fur, creating a mesmerizing interplay of texture and form. The underside reveals two meticulously carved feet, tucked beneath the body for compactness. The eyes, inlaid with bright-red amber and dark horn pupils, lend the figure a vivid, almost lifelike presence. Two small himotoshi are discreetly positioned at the back and underside.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with very minor wear and a few tiny hairline age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection W. L. Behrens (1861-1913). Zacke, Netsuke und Inro aus Japan, no. 38. An Austrian private collection, acquired from the above.
Kaigyokusai has interpreted the goat emerging from the rock in his own way — without any pathos, yet in a quietly magnificent manner. The structure of the rock is not so rigid that it would not harmonize with a particularly shaggy coat; the transition between the appearance of both materials is masterfully executed. The rock transforms into fur, and vice versa.
The enlarged color image on the cover of the catalog shows the same phenomenon that is characteristic of Kaigyokusai’s work. With an eminently confident and clear form, the viewer’s gaze is drawn all the more to the inner life present in truly astonishing quality.
Since the execution is altogether delicate, even minimal movements significantly alter the composition, such as the extremely sensitively rendered lines around the inlaid eyes. These are positioned in an almost perfect manner, dominating the entire expression. They define the entire expression, appearing minuscule and subtle, yet undeniably intentional, forming the very essence of this masterpiece.
Koshohei is a sennin based on the Chinese Daoist immortal Wong Tai Sin, known also as the Red Pine Immortal, who had the power to turn rocks into goats. He is the divine form of Huang Chuping (c. 328-386), a Daoist hermit from Jinhua during the Eastern Jin dynasty. When he withdrew into a cave for years of meditation, his brother sought him out, found him, and was astonished to see no trace of his goats. Koshohei simply touched the rock with his staff, and immediately, a goat grew from it. He repeated this until his entire herd stood around him.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a recumbent goat by the same artist, signed Kaigyokusai, at Bonhams, The Harrriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 142 (sold for GBP 23,750, or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 24-B-0196).
Attributed to Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892), unsigned
Japan, Osaka, second half of the 19th century
Published:
Joly, Henri L. (1912) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, no. 1283 and illustrated on pl. XXIV.
Weber, V. -F. (1965), Koji Hoten, illustrated on pl. XXXII, no. 9. (La Chevre de Koshohei).
Zacke (1985) Netsuke und Inro aus Japan, no. 38 and illustrated on the cover.
A masterfully carved, gem-like ivory netsuke, sculpted from pure-white tokata ivory and enhanced with sumi for striking contrast, depicting a goat caught mid-transformation, referencing the legend of Koshohei, who wielded the power to turn rocks into goats. The mythical creature’s fur is rendered with exceptional detail, its short beard grazing the rock beneath. Ingeniously, the craggy texture of the stone seamlessly merges with the finely incised fur, creating a mesmerizing interplay of texture and form. The underside reveals two meticulously carved feet, tucked beneath the body for compactness. The eyes, inlaid with bright-red amber and dark horn pupils, lend the figure a vivid, almost lifelike presence. Two small himotoshi are discreetly positioned at the back and underside.
LENGTH 3.8 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with very minor wear and a few tiny hairline age cracks.
Provenance: Ex-collection W. L. Behrens (1861-1913). Zacke, Netsuke und Inro aus Japan, no. 38. An Austrian private collection, acquired from the above.
Kaigyokusai has interpreted the goat emerging from the rock in his own way — without any pathos, yet in a quietly magnificent manner. The structure of the rock is not so rigid that it would not harmonize with a particularly shaggy coat; the transition between the appearance of both materials is masterfully executed. The rock transforms into fur, and vice versa.
The enlarged color image on the cover of the catalog shows the same phenomenon that is characteristic of Kaigyokusai’s work. With an eminently confident and clear form, the viewer’s gaze is drawn all the more to the inner life present in truly astonishing quality.
Since the execution is altogether delicate, even minimal movements significantly alter the composition, such as the extremely sensitively rendered lines around the inlaid eyes. These are positioned in an almost perfect manner, dominating the entire expression. They define the entire expression, appearing minuscule and subtle, yet undeniably intentional, forming the very essence of this masterpiece.
Koshohei is a sennin based on the Chinese Daoist immortal Wong Tai Sin, known also as the Red Pine Immortal, who had the power to turn rocks into goats. He is the divine form of Huang Chuping (c. 328-386), a Daoist hermit from Jinhua during the Eastern Jin dynasty. When he withdrew into a cave for years of meditation, his brother sought him out, found him, and was astonished to see no trace of his goats. Koshohei simply touched the rock with his staff, and immediately, a goat grew from it. He repeated this until his entire herd stood around him.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a recumbent goat by the same artist, signed Kaigyokusai, at Bonhams, The Harrriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 142 (sold for GBP 23,750, or approx. EUR 41,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 24-B-0196).
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
Auction: Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 9th May, 2025
We’re pleased to present our first Fine Netsuke & Sagemono auction of the year.
The sale begins with a strong group of fine inro, showcasing a range of materials and lacquer techniques. Highlights include the stitched cherry bark inro by Kanshosai Toyo (Lot 14), and a striking yamimaki-e inro depicting Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s famous Earth Spider print (Lot 25).
From Lot 80 to the end of the sale, the auction focuses on fine netsuke, spanning a wide range of materials, styles, and schools. Notable pieces include a detailed carving of shishi lions on a base, signed Tomotada (Lot 149); the transforming goat attributed to Kaigyokusai Masatsugu—our cover piece (Lot 163); and an ingeniously carved basket of fish by Tsukamoto Kyokusai (Lot 291). Learn more.
Classic Bidding Form Telephone Bidding Form
Viewing
EXHIBITION IN OUR NEW SHOWROOM: ZELINKAGASSE 6, 1010 VIENNA
5 - 8 May from 10 am - 6 pm
9 May from 10 am - 12 pm
as well as by appointment
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
