Dark Stained Ivory Netsuke of a Hare by Masatomo

Nursing a mushroom between its front paws and wearing the glummest of expressions. The eyes are inlaid with pale buffalo horn

Signed. Kyoto. Circa 1800

5.3cm

Old collection label numbered 67

Curiously the only combination of hare and mushroom recorded by Fuld is in two netsuke by Masatomo, the other being one in the Marcel Lorber collection, sold in his sale at Sotheby’s London, 12th June 1986, lot 5. It is of a similar size to the present netsuke and the hare has the similar squashed looking nose

Literature:

Bulletin Association Franco-japonaise, n° 78 p. 2 ( illustrated with other netsuke publicising the Piasa sale)

Gabor Wilhelm’s sale report of the Piasa sale, idem, n° 79. p. 42, where he expresses surprise at the price

The same report in English, INSJ, 23/1, p.18

Provenance:

Almost certainly H. Seymour Trower collection (lot 204 in Joly’s catalogue, not illustrated)

Sale, Piasa, Paris 23rd October 2002, lot 235, where purchased by the present owner

Project Description