Lot details By Kosai Moritoshi (1854-1911), signed Kosai Moritoshi 孝齋 守壽 with kakihan Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of circular form, the two-part manju finely carved to one side in shishiaibori (sunken relief) with Prince Hanzoku standing in a dynamic pose with all limbs spread out, wearing a pleated sarong and billowing scarves, adorned with a beaded necklace, his face with a grim expression, his curled hair neatly incised. The other side similarly carved with a nine-tailed fox, the true form of Hanzoku’s consort Lady Kayo, the beast with a fierce expression, the long body elegantly curved and still covered in the fine robes of her previous guise. Signed to the back KOSAI MORITOSHI with the characteristic ‘flying crane’ kakihan. DIAMETER 5.3 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear. Fine honey-yellow patina. The present netsuke depicts the Indian prince Hanzoku and his consort Lady Kayo, who reveals herself as a nine-tailed fox, and is based on a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) from 1849. Kosai Moritoshi (1854-1911) was the founder of a school of Manju netsuke carvers. Ueda Reikichi describes this carver’s work as having “a beautiful style”, see Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 543. Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory manju netsuke by Kosai Moritoshi, similarly carved in shishiaibori, formerly in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.87.263.25. Compare a closely related ivory manju netsuke, the subject described as “the story of Abe no Seimei and the nine-tailed fox”, signed Shunkosai Moritoshi and also with a ‘flying crane’ kakihan, dated c. 1870, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 581. Auction comparison: Compare a related ivory manju netsuke by Moritoshi, similarly carved in shishiaibori and also with a ‘flying crane’ kakihan, at Bonhams, Asian Decorative Arts, 24 June 2015, San Francisco, lot 8007 (sold for 3,750 USD). Trade Certificate: In accordance with new EU regulations that went into effect in January 2022, we have applied for a certificate to sell this item within the EU. We expect the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology to issue the certificate in 4-8 weeks. The item can only be shipped / handed over once the certificate has been issued.
Lot details By Kosai Moritoshi (1854-1911), signed Kosai Moritoshi 孝齋 守壽 with kakihan Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of circular form, the two-part manju finely carved to one side in shishiaibori (sunken relief) with Prince Hanzoku standing in a dynamic pose with all limbs spread out, wearing a pleated sarong and billowing scarves, adorned with a beaded necklace, his face with a grim expression, his curled hair neatly incised. The other side similarly carved with a nine-tailed fox, the true form of Hanzoku’s consort Lady Kayo, the beast with a fierce expression, the long body elegantly curved and still covered in the fine robes of her previous guise. Signed to the back KOSAI MORITOSHI with the characteristic ‘flying crane’ kakihan. DIAMETER 5.3 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear. Fine honey-yellow patina. The present netsuke depicts the Indian prince Hanzoku and his consort Lady Kayo, who reveals herself as a nine-tailed fox, and is based on a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) from 1849. Kosai Moritoshi (1854-1911) was the founder of a school of Manju netsuke carvers. Ueda Reikichi describes this carver’s work as having “a beautiful style”, see Bushell, Raymond (1961) The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi, p. 543. Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory manju netsuke by Kosai Moritoshi, similarly carved in shishiaibori, formerly in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.87.263.25. Compare a closely related ivory manju netsuke, the subject described as “the story of Abe no Seimei and the nine-tailed fox”, signed Shunkosai Moritoshi and also with a ‘flying crane’ kakihan, dated c. 1870, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 581. Auction comparison: Compare a related ivory manju netsuke by Moritoshi, similarly carved in shishiaibori and also with a ‘flying crane’ kakihan, at Bonhams, Asian Decorative Arts, 24 June 2015, San Francisco, lot 8007 (sold for 3,750 USD). Trade Certificate: In accordance with new EU regulations that went into effect in January 2022, we have applied for a certificate to sell this item within the EU. We expect the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology to issue the certificate in 4-8 weeks. The item can only be shipped / handed over once the certificate has been issued.
.jpg?w=400?width=1600&quality=70 "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
