Stag Antler Sashi Netsuke, attributed to Isshōsai Hakumin

Carved from the base of a fairly straight and thin antler, the corona suggesting a reishi cap, a slim and serpentine smooth rain dragon climbing up the side, considerably undercut

Unsigned. Circa 1870

Height 13cm

I believe that this is by Isshōsai Hakumin, represented by a single restrained senryūzutsu pipe case in Paul Moss’s Kokusai trilogy, vol. III, no. 441. Another example with an owl, signed simply Isshōsai, was offered in the 3rd Wrangham sale at Bonhams London, lot 159, while an unsigned one with an owl was attributed by Mossto Masayuki (ibid. no. 411), erroneously in my opinion. Paul Moss refers to Hakumin’s later pipe cases, justifiably, as “outrageously overelaborated creations”. I believe that one such, from the Dean collection, appeared in the Sotheby’s London sale of 14th November 2000, as lot 247. The seal signature (sadly not illustrated) was read as Hakugaku, probably also in error

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