Unsigned Japan, early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The lucky god Hotei depicted here holding a large gnarly cane and uchiwa (fan), looking upwards and grinning, his expressively carved face framed by large pendulous earlobes. The expression has an unusually rustic character, typical for early stag antler pieces, but portrayed rather uniquely here, the gorgeous color and patina strengthening the characterful expression further. The large protruding belly is polished smoothly. Large himotoshi through the back and underneath. The utilization of the material is masterful, much of the densely porous areas of this thick section of solid antler reserved for the underside and crevices. The stubbled beard and hair on the forehead and chest are rendered remarkably by the tiny little pores, this is particularly spectacular when magnified. HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with ‘natural flaws’ to the material. Provenance: Ex-collection Richard R. Silverman purchased from Sharen Chappell, St. Paul, in 2013. Richard R. Silverman (1932-2019) was a renowned Asian art collector with one of the largest private collections of netsuke outside of Japan. He lived in Tokyo between 1964 and 1979 and began to collect netsuke there in 1968. Since the 1970s, he wrote and lectured about netsuke and was an Asian art consultant for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams. His gift of 226 ceramic netsuke to the Toledo Museum of Art constitutes perhaps the largest public collection of these miniature clay sculptures in the world. After moving to California, Silverman became a member of the Far Eastern Art Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1984. In 1993, he joined LACMA’s Executive Board. He served on the board of directors for the International Society of Appraisers from 1986 to 1994 and served nine years as chair for the City of West Hollywood Fine Arts Commission. Richard Silverman was posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his decades-long promotion of Japanese culture.
Unsigned Japan, early 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The lucky god Hotei depicted here holding a large gnarly cane and uchiwa (fan), looking upwards and grinning, his expressively carved face framed by large pendulous earlobes. The expression has an unusually rustic character, typical for early stag antler pieces, but portrayed rather uniquely here, the gorgeous color and patina strengthening the characterful expression further. The large protruding belly is polished smoothly. Large himotoshi through the back and underneath. The utilization of the material is masterful, much of the densely porous areas of this thick section of solid antler reserved for the underside and crevices. The stubbled beard and hair on the forehead and chest are rendered remarkably by the tiny little pores, this is particularly spectacular when magnified. HEIGHT 4 cm, LENGTH 4.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with ‘natural flaws’ to the material. Provenance: Ex-collection Richard R. Silverman purchased from Sharen Chappell, St. Paul, in 2013. Richard R. Silverman (1932-2019) was a renowned Asian art collector with one of the largest private collections of netsuke outside of Japan. He lived in Tokyo between 1964 and 1979 and began to collect netsuke there in 1968. Since the 1970s, he wrote and lectured about netsuke and was an Asian art consultant for Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and Bonhams. His gift of 226 ceramic netsuke to the Toledo Museum of Art constitutes perhaps the largest public collection of these miniature clay sculptures in the world. After moving to California, Silverman became a member of the Far Eastern Art Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1984. In 1993, he joined LACMA’s Executive Board. He served on the board of directors for the International Society of Appraisers from 1986 to 1994 and served nine years as chair for the City of West Hollywood Fine Arts Commission. Richard Silverman was posthumously awarded the Order of the Rising Sun for his decades-long promotion of Japanese culture.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
