8th Nov, 2024 13:00

Fine Netsuke & Sagemono

 
Lot 222
 

222

JOBUN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECLINING MONKEY

Sold for €14,300

including Buyer's Premium


Lot details

By Jobun, signed Jobun 如文
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An amusing study of a monkey depicted in a very human manner, reclining on its side, one leg over the other, and the head resting over its tightly clasped hands, as it looks into the distance contemplatively. The primate is dressed in a short-sleeved robe pleated to the collar and decorated with scattered formal designs, typical for the artist, the loose robe tied into a dainty bow underneath. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside, the larger hole generously excavated to accommodate the knot and signed to a fold of the hem JOBUN.

LENGTH 5.6 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, a small touchup to the snout.
Provenance: From the private collection of the former owner of Galerie Japan-Kunst, Vienna. Acquired during the late 20th century from various dealers such as Barry Davies and collector friends such as Marcel Lorber.

For a discussion of Jobun and his work see Milton Stratos, The Netsuke Carvings of Jobun, International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 22, no.1, pp. 14-27. The article illustrates two netsuke of monkey trainers (sarumawashi) (fig. 31 & 34), however a monkey on its own is to be considered very rare. The discovery of the present netsuke, which has been held in a private collection since c. 1980, makes this the third known example of this type (see literature and auction comparisons).

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of two monkeys in a similar pose, by Jobun, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss (2008) Such Stuff as Dreams are made on. Japanese netsuke from the Willi G. Bosshard collection, pp. 116-117, no. 55.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a performing monkey, by Jobun, at Sotheby’s, Japanese Works of Art, Prints & Paintings, 9 November 2006, London, lot 1097 (sold for GBP 4,800 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

 

By Jobun, signed Jobun 如文
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

An amusing study of a monkey depicted in a very human manner, reclining on its side, one leg over the other, and the head resting over its tightly clasped hands, as it looks into the distance contemplatively. The primate is dressed in a short-sleeved robe pleated to the collar and decorated with scattered formal designs, typical for the artist, the loose robe tied into a dainty bow underneath. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside, the larger hole generously excavated to accommodate the knot and signed to a fold of the hem JOBUN.

LENGTH 5.6 cm

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, a small touchup to the snout.
Provenance: From the private collection of the former owner of Galerie Japan-Kunst, Vienna. Acquired during the late 20th century from various dealers such as Barry Davies and collector friends such as Marcel Lorber.

For a discussion of Jobun and his work see Milton Stratos, The Netsuke Carvings of Jobun, International Netsuke Society Journal, vol. 22, no.1, pp. 14-27. The article illustrates two netsuke of monkey trainers (sarumawashi) (fig. 31 & 34), however a monkey on its own is to be considered very rare. The discovery of the present netsuke, which has been held in a private collection since c. 1980, makes this the third known example of this type (see literature and auction comparisons).

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of two monkeys in a similar pose, by Jobun, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss (2008) Such Stuff as Dreams are made on. Japanese netsuke from the Willi G. Bosshard collection, pp. 116-117, no. 55.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a performing monkey, by Jobun, at Sotheby’s, Japanese Works of Art, Prints & Paintings, 9 November 2006, London, lot 1097 (sold for GBP 4,800 or approx. EUR 11,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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