MASANAO: A FINE AND EARLY WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX

拍品描述

MASANAO: A FINE AND EARLY WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX By Masanao I, signed Masanao 正直 Japan, Yamada, Ise Province, late 18th-early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Powerfully carved as a recumbent ox with its head lowered and tail swept to one side. The ribs and spine are subtly articulated, while the fur is rendered with finely executed, naturalistic incision work. The animal is carefully detailed with curved horns, funnel-shaped ears, and large eyes inlaid to corners. The underside is neatly carved with asymmetrical himotoshi and signed within a polished reserve MASANAO. LENGTH 4.7 cm This remarkably bold and powerful carving, showing wear in all the right places, is clearly an early work from the industrious Masanao lineage, most plausibly attributable to Masanao I. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of an ox by the same artist, signed Masanao, 5.6 cm wide, at Sotheby’s, Fine Netsuke Inro and Lacquer from the Estate of Madelyn Hickmott, 8 February 1989, New York, lot 227 (sold for USD 3,575 or approx. EUR 8,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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