WOODEN PACIFIC FANTASY ANIMAL ADAPTED FOR NETSUKE 18th... Lot 40

WOODEN PACIFIC FANTASY ANIMAL ADAPTED FOR NETSUKE 18th century A WOOD FIGURE OF A MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURE FROM THE PACIFIC CONVERTED INTO A NETSUKE 18th century The figure seated upright, drawing its knees close to its body in a compact position, its long curly hair tumbling down its back, traces of green pigment throughout its body; unsigned. 6.4cm (2½in) high. Footnotes: 木彫根付 神獣 無銘 18世紀 Provenance: Sold at Sotheby's, London, 15 July 1963, lot 88. Carlo Monzino Collection. Sold at Sotheby's, London, 21 June 1995, lot 6. A European private collection. Exhibited and Published: Petra Holmberg, Netsuke, Stockholm, Östasiatiska Museet, 16 October 1999-9 January 2000, p.51. An example of a rare subject matter, the design was probably adapted from Javanese kris knife handles. Three illustrations of similar pieces attributed to Hogen (Yoshimura) Shuzan are illustrated in Soken Kisho, vol.7, p.10. An example from the Musée d'Ennery, Paris, is illustrated by V. F. Weber, KH, p.321, fig.898. Another somewhat similar carving from the Behrens collection, possibly an actual kris knife handle subsequently adapted into a netsuke, is illustrated by H. Joly, WLB, pl.XLVI, no.23. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com