Ɏ IKKOSAI: AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE IVORY NETSUKE... Lot n° 186

Ɏ IKKOSAI: AN IMPORTANT AND LARGE IVORY NETSUKE OF IDATEN CAPTURING AN ONI By Ikkosai Toun, signed Ikkosai 一光齋 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: International Netsuke Society Journal (Spring 2019) Vol. 39, no. 3, p. 21, fig. 5. Sagemonoya (2022), The Gabor and Georgina Wilhelm Collection, p. 36, no. 52. A remarkably powerful and superbly carved, tall ivory netsuke of Idaten, protector of monasteries and monks, dressed in full Tang Chinese armor, carrying a sheathed sword on his back, capturing the oni shoshitsuki who has stolen a Buddhist reliquary containing one of Buddha’s teeth, the protective deity grabbing the oni’s mouth and forcefully removing the stolen tooth. The lightly stained ivory is carved with incredible detail – note the finely incised beard of Idaten and the hair of the oni, the various incised patterns to the armor, and the billowing celestial scarves which move seamlessly around the composition. The signature is located within an oval reserve IKKOSAI between the two himotoshi. HEIGHT 8.8 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear and only very few natural age cracks. Fine patina. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. This carver Ikkosai, who also used the art name Toun, was likely a direct pupil of Ikkosai Saito Itaro, who also treated this rare subject. Considering the quality and size, the present netsuke has to be regarded as the figural masterpiece of this school._x000D_ _x000D_ Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511105-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.