8th Nov, 2024 13:00
Fine Netsuke & Sagemono
169
A SUPERB AND RARE LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF DARUMA AND OCTOPUS, CIRCLE OF IKKYU AND ITTOKUSAI
Sold for €11,700
including Buyer's Premium
Circle of Ikkyu and Ittokusai, unsigned
Japan, Nagoya, c. 1860
Daruma is depicted here as a defenseless Daruma-doll, coming to life, completely enveloped in his robe which is finely lacquered in red with a green obi, while an octopus tangles around him, giving him a smooch on the lips. Daruma looks on disgruntledly, the eyes of both are inlaid in dark horn. Bodhidharma must endure many hardships in netsuke art, but this may be considered one of the more bizarre, tinged with a hint of eroticism – the octopus being a classic symbol of shunga art. The details are all finely picked out, such as Daruma’s bushy brows and stubble, and the octopus’s tentacles are neatly detailed with suckers. Himotoshi underneath.
LENGTH 4 cm
Condition: Very good condition with some minor expected wear and light rubbing to lacquer.
Provenance: French private collection, collection no. 380, with old label "Dharma fascinant une pieuvre".
Museum comparison:
Only one other netsuke is recorded of this subject; it is signed Ittokusai and is located in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18695.
Auction comparison:
Compare the octopus to two netsuke by Ikkyu, one at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 106 (sold for EUR 24,016) and another at Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 19 September 2009, New York, lot 2032 (sold for 54,900 USD).
Circle of Ikkyu and Ittokusai, unsigned
Japan, Nagoya, c. 1860
Daruma is depicted here as a defenseless Daruma-doll, coming to life, completely enveloped in his robe which is finely lacquered in red with a green obi, while an octopus tangles around him, giving him a smooch on the lips. Daruma looks on disgruntledly, the eyes of both are inlaid in dark horn. Bodhidharma must endure many hardships in netsuke art, but this may be considered one of the more bizarre, tinged with a hint of eroticism – the octopus being a classic symbol of shunga art. The details are all finely picked out, such as Daruma’s bushy brows and stubble, and the octopus’s tentacles are neatly detailed with suckers. Himotoshi underneath.
LENGTH 4 cm
Condition: Very good condition with some minor expected wear and light rubbing to lacquer.
Provenance: French private collection, collection no. 380, with old label "Dharma fascinant une pieuvre".
Museum comparison:
Only one other netsuke is recorded of this subject; it is signed Ittokusai and is located in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18695.
Auction comparison:
Compare the octopus to two netsuke by Ikkyu, one at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 106 (sold for EUR 24,016) and another at Bonhams, The Bluette H. Kirchhoff Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 19 September 2009, New York, lot 2032 (sold for 54,900 USD).
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