9th May, 2025 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
168
Ɏ ANRAKUSAI: A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF HENMEISANRO SEKISHU AND THE MONK HAIJOKAI
€4,000
€8,000
€4,000 (1bid)
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
By Shuko(sai) Anrakusai, signed Anrakusai 安樂齋
Japan, Osaka, c. 1860 Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Klompmakers, Inge (1998) Of Brigands and Bravery, Kuniyoshi’s heroes of the Suikoden, Leiden, pp. 94-95.
Bandini, Rosemary (2010) Japanese Netsuke, Inro and Works of Art, no. 7.
Superbly carved and stained to depict Henmeisanro Sekishu (Shi Xiu) restraining the adulterous monk Haijokai with his foot, right before he stabs him to death for having an affair with the wife of prison chief Byokansaku Yoyu. Shi Xiu is dressed in loose-fitting monk’s garbs, gently tapping a mokugyo strapped around his neck, mocking the foiled plan of Haijokai and his accomplice who would beat the drum to signal when it was safe to leave Yoyu’s house. The repentful monk with a pleading expression, wearing robes incised with scrolling clouds and asanoha, cascading down in voluminous folds, full of movement. The ivory with a rich, amber-honey stain, the details embellished with sumi (ink). Himotoshi through the back and underside and signed within a wavy blade-shaped reserve ANRAKUSAI.
HEIGHT 5.3 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: Rutherston & Bandini, 2011. A private collection in Luxembourg, acquired from the above.
This highly detailed and powerful work by Anraku(sai) echoes some of his other later works, which are dramatic representations of legenadary tales. He uses a dark stain and black sumi-e details to reinforce the powerful nature of the carving.
Following a turn of bad luck, Henmeisanro Sekishu is forced to sell grass for a living. As he had at one point saved the prison chief Byokansaku Yoyu from a street robber, he is invited to spend a couple of days as Yoyu's guest. During his stay Sekishu notices that Yoyu's wife is having an affair with a monk, Haijokai, who always drops by for an amorous rendezvous when Yoyu is absent. One night, Sekishu awaits him outside Yoyu's house and upon the priest's arrival stabs him several times with his knife, killing him.
Anrakusai portrays Sekishu at the moment he has caught the secret lover Haijokai. He restrains him with his right foot and carries a drum which belongs to another priest who assisted Haijokai by beating his drum every morning as a signal when it was safe to leave Yoyu's house. Sekishu kills this priest first, dons his clothes and then lies in wait for Haijokai.
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 25-B-0089).
By Shuko(sai) Anrakusai, signed Anrakusai 安樂齋
Japan, Osaka, c. 1860 Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Klompmakers, Inge (1998) Of Brigands and Bravery, Kuniyoshi’s heroes of the Suikoden, Leiden, pp. 94-95.
Bandini, Rosemary (2010) Japanese Netsuke, Inro and Works of Art, no. 7.
Superbly carved and stained to depict Henmeisanro Sekishu (Shi Xiu) restraining the adulterous monk Haijokai with his foot, right before he stabs him to death for having an affair with the wife of prison chief Byokansaku Yoyu. Shi Xiu is dressed in loose-fitting monk’s garbs, gently tapping a mokugyo strapped around his neck, mocking the foiled plan of Haijokai and his accomplice who would beat the drum to signal when it was safe to leave Yoyu’s house. The repentful monk with a pleading expression, wearing robes incised with scrolling clouds and asanoha, cascading down in voluminous folds, full of movement. The ivory with a rich, amber-honey stain, the details embellished with sumi (ink). Himotoshi through the back and underside and signed within a wavy blade-shaped reserve ANRAKUSAI.
HEIGHT 5.3 cm
Condition: Excellent condition.
Provenance: Rutherston & Bandini, 2011. A private collection in Luxembourg, acquired from the above.
This highly detailed and powerful work by Anraku(sai) echoes some of his other later works, which are dramatic representations of legenadary tales. He uses a dark stain and black sumi-e details to reinforce the powerful nature of the carving.
Following a turn of bad luck, Henmeisanro Sekishu is forced to sell grass for a living. As he had at one point saved the prison chief Byokansaku Yoyu from a street robber, he is invited to spend a couple of days as Yoyu's guest. During his stay Sekishu notices that Yoyu's wife is having an affair with a monk, Haijokai, who always drops by for an amorous rendezvous when Yoyu is absent. One night, Sekishu awaits him outside Yoyu's house and upon the priest's arrival stabs him several times with his knife, killing him.
Anrakusai portrays Sekishu at the moment he has caught the secret lover Haijokai. He restrains him with his right foot and carries a drum which belongs to another priest who assisted Haijokai by beating his drum every morning as a signal when it was safe to leave Yoyu's house. Sekishu kills this priest first, dons his clothes and then lies in wait for Haijokai.
Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 25-B-0089).
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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.
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