HOSHUNSAI MASAYUKI: A SUPERB STAG ANTLER NETSUKE... Lot n° 267

By Hoshunsai Masayuki, unsigned Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th century A Buddhist ritual wine vessel, the spout in the form of a very unusual and strikingly bizarre ‘dragon head’, whimsical in its appearance and with delicately carved features. The horns of the creature terminate in bifurcated scrolls, the design repeated with the tail of the mythical creature, forming the handles of the vessel. The vessel stands on four stubby legs and the center of the composition is carved on both sides with varying motifs in openwork, incredibly fragile but firmly in place – a testament to the unique hardness of the material. One side shows a very Chinese congregation of tendrils and vines with a flower in the middle, while the other shows scrolling designs. The vessel is surmounted by an elaborately crafted lid with a reishi-shaped finial allowing for suspension as a pendant, also with many ‘natural’ himotoshi due to the openwork nature of the netsuke. HEIGHT 4.7 cm Condition: Excellent condition with ‘natural flaws’ to the material. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related netsuke by the same carver, though of significantly smaller size, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 27 March 2020, Vienna, lot 188 (sold for 6,521 EUR). Literature comparison: Though variants of this model exist, they are all unique in their appearance, differing in size, the expression of the ‘dragon head’ and the openworked central structure. The present netsuke is one of only few of these models to have a beard. Compare four related netsuke by Masayuki, two of which lack his signature, in Sydney Moss, ‘Kokusai the Genius’, vol. III, p. 102-105, nos. 394-397. 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.