Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912) Wood Netsuke katabori - Monkey caught in the eagle's greenhouse - Signed Gyokuseki 玉石 - 4.7 cm
19
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,000 - € 1,500
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Japanese wooden netsuke titled Netsuke katabori – Monkey trapped in the eagle's enclosure, signed Gyokuseki 玉石; Meiji period late circa 1900–1912, height 4.7 cm, width 3.2 cm, depth 2.5 cm.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Remarkable Japanese wooden netsuke depicting a monkey caught in the powerful talons of an eagle, signed Gyokuseki 玉石.
The composition is particularly expressive: the monkey, crouched and seemingly imprisoned at the center of the sculpture, opens its mouth in a striking grimace while the eagle's large talons coil around it and almost entirely shape the netsuke. The eyes and teeth are highlighted with inlays, giving the face a remarkable presence.
The work is entirely conceived in the round, with special attention paid to the monkey's fur, the powerful volumes of the talon and the overall balance of the piece. The himotoshi are integrated into the composition. The Gyokuseki 玉石 signature is incised on the talon.
Old documentation places the work at the beginning of the 20th century. The stylistic and documentary study allows a more precise attribution to the end of the Meiji era, around 1900-1912.
The piece benefits especially from an outstanding provenance: it belonged to the private collection of Armand Basi (1924-2009), an important enthusiast of Japanese art and netsuke collector. It is accompanied by a copy of his collection card no. 740, on which the subject, the Gyokuseki signature, and a dating to the early 20th century are already listed.
A netsuke of character, both spectacular in its iconography and highly expressive in its treatment, reinforced by an ancient, well-documented provenance.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/l4zaph98al832lkalt9ms/AHblZJhWuIbhV9fOnb7gn9k?rlkey=nxqn5gx1r8ur7sel2h5d4mcu9&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateRemarkable Japanese wooden netsuke depicting a monkey caught in the powerful talons of an eagle, signed Gyokuseki 玉石.
The composition is particularly expressive: the monkey, crouched and seemingly imprisoned at the center of the sculpture, opens its mouth in a striking grimace while the eagle's large talons coil around it and almost entirely shape the netsuke. The eyes and teeth are highlighted with inlays, giving the face a remarkable presence.
The work is entirely conceived in the round, with special attention paid to the monkey's fur, the powerful volumes of the talon and the overall balance of the piece. The himotoshi are integrated into the composition. The Gyokuseki 玉石 signature is incised on the talon.
Old documentation places the work at the beginning of the 20th century. The stylistic and documentary study allows a more precise attribution to the end of the Meiji era, around 1900-1912.
The piece benefits especially from an outstanding provenance: it belonged to the private collection of Armand Basi (1924-2009), an important enthusiast of Japanese art and netsuke collector. It is accompanied by a copy of his collection card no. 740, on which the subject, the Gyokuseki signature, and a dating to the early 20th century are already listed.
A netsuke of character, both spectacular in its iconography and highly expressive in its treatment, reinforced by an ancient, well-documented provenance.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/l4zaph98al832lkalt9ms/AHblZJhWuIbhV9fOnb7gn9k?rlkey=nxqn5gx1r8ur7sel2h5d4mcu9&dl=0
Seller's Story
MIMOSA SA — EXPERTISE, RESEARCH AND TRANSMISSION
For more than 26 years, I have been working as an art dealer specializing in ancient Asian arts. My work is not simply to offer objects: it is to observe them, to understand them, to study them and to document them before passing them to a new collector.
Each work presented by Mimosa SA undergoes thorough examination. Depending on its nature, this study may concern the iconography, the style, the proportions, the material, the execution techniques, surface traces, patina, the condition, restorations, provenance as well as relevant bibliographic, museum or archaeological comparisons. When justified, additional scientific analyses may also be undertaken.
Our approach rests on the experience of sight, gained from direct contact with the works for over two decades, but also on methodical and constantly renewed research. We always favor a cautious, coherent and argued attribution rather than a seductive but insufficiently substantiated assertion.
Transparency is at the heart of our approach. The wear, gaps, accidents, ancient restorations or more recent interventions are reported as precisely as possible. When an attribution carries uncertainty or remains a working hypothesis, it is clearly presented as such.
Present on Catawiki since 2016, we have chosen to maintain a regular selection of works there in order to meet international collectors who value authenticity, knowledge and quality of documentation.
Each acquisition is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued under our professional responsibility. For the most important works, this certificate takes the form of a genuine study dossier gathering the main technical, stylistic, iconographic, historical and bibliographic observations made during our research.
The same standard applies to shipping. Over the years, we have developed a packaging method adapted to old, fragile, heavy or complex-shaped objects. Each work is protected, immobilized and carefully packaged, according to its material and its particularities. The shipping costs correspond to the real needs for protection, handling, insurance and secure transport. Shipping is never regarded as a source of commercial profit.
Acquiring a work from Mimosa SA is to receive a selected, studied, described, documented and prepared object with the same care that we would wish for a work destined for our own collection.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Japan - Meiji Era (1868-1912)
Century/timeframe
Début du XXe siècle, vers 1900-1912
Name of object
Netsuke katabori - Monkey caught in the eagle's greenhouse - Signed Gyokuseki 玉石
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2009
Material
Wood
Country acquired from
Europe
Condition
Very good
Previous owner acquired from
Auction house
Height
4.7 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Width
3.2 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Europe
Depth
2.5 cm
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
