By Isshin, signed Isshin 一心 Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century An elaborately worked stag antler netsuke of an octopus (tako), who rather amusingly seems to have entangled itself in a convoluted mess of its own tentacles. Several of its suckered arms are interlocking, forming pleasing curls at the ends, and one tentacle even pulls at its funnel-shaped beak, stretching it to the right, causing some strain to the octopus as thick veins stand out at the top of its head. The deeply furrowed brows of the cephalopod are another indication of its discomfort. The abundance of cumbersomely carved, spongiform material on the edges give evidence to the superior skill needed to carve this netsuke in this manner. Note also the rather elaborate triangular himotoshi and the signature within a raised pot-shaped reserve – ISSHIN – which translates to “one heart”. LENGTH 3.8 cm Condition: Superb condition. Provenance: European private collection. Literature comparison: Compare to three similar netsuke in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 370-373, nos. 555-557. No. 556 is signed Isshin, while the other two are attributed to a follower of Kokusai.
By Isshin, signed Isshin 一心 Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century An elaborately worked stag antler netsuke of an octopus (tako), who rather amusingly seems to have entangled itself in a convoluted mess of its own tentacles. Several of its suckered arms are interlocking, forming pleasing curls at the ends, and one tentacle even pulls at its funnel-shaped beak, stretching it to the right, causing some strain to the octopus as thick veins stand out at the top of its head. The deeply furrowed brows of the cephalopod are another indication of its discomfort. The abundance of cumbersomely carved, spongiform material on the edges give evidence to the superior skill needed to carve this netsuke in this manner. Note also the rather elaborate triangular himotoshi and the signature within a raised pot-shaped reserve – ISSHIN – which translates to “one heart”. LENGTH 3.8 cm Condition: Superb condition. Provenance: European private collection. Literature comparison: Compare to three similar netsuke in Sydney Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai The Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 370-373, nos. 555-557. No. 556 is signed Isshin, while the other two are attributed to a follower of Kokusai.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
