Japan - Edo period Wood Wooden netsuke of a yama-inu with a human skull — probably the Tsu school, Kokei tradition - 5.2 cm
18
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23
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05
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21
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Current bid
€ 2
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 1,600 - € 2,000
 | €2 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1 |
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Original Edo-period Japanese wooden netsuke depicting a yama-inu crouching over a human skull, likely from the Tsu school of Kokei, dating to the 19th century; dimensions 5.2 × 5 × 2 cm, weight 20.4 g, in very good condition with natural wear and no modern restoration.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Rare and expressive Japanese wooden netsuke representing a yama-inu - wild dog or Japanese wolf - crouched above a human skull. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
The composition is especially striking: the animal’s wiry body forms a compact arch around the skull, while one forepaw rests directly on it. The head is tilted downward, the dentition finely indicated and the eyes inlaid with a dark material, identified in old documentation as horn.
The coat is entirely animated by fine parallel incisions whose orientation varies with the anatomy. The dark shade kept in the hollows contrasts with the brown-orange highlights, polished by use, giving the piece a particularly lively surface.
The underside shows a characteristic construction of a true functional netsuke: the spaces between the limbs form a natural himotoshi for the passing cord.
The motif of the yama-inu combined with a human skull is well documented in 19th-century Japanese netsuke and appears notably in the repertoire of the famous sculptor Kokei of Tsu. The present piece is unsigned and therefore not personally attributed to Kokei; however, its iconographic and stylistic vocabulary allows us to place it probably in the Tsu school and within Kokei’s stylistic tradition.
Provenance adds further interest: the piece comes from the former Richard R. Silverman collection (1932-2019), an important American netsuke collection. According to old documentation, it was acquired from Konishi in Los Angeles in 1977, before joining a European private collection.
Very good overall condition considering its age, with natural wear and polishing compatible with long use. No modern restoration was noted during photographic and video examination.
Dimensions: 5.2 × 5 × 2 cm. Weight: 20.4 g.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century. Unsigned.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wgknt72c2rfiad30if611/ABOARX0kNnzf7kL6aZRXDFA?rlkey=zp62wj2qe0l7kuur3mpc88sil&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 TranslateRare and expressive Japanese wooden netsuke representing a yama-inu - wild dog or Japanese wolf - crouched above a human skull. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
The composition is especially striking: the animal’s wiry body forms a compact arch around the skull, while one forepaw rests directly on it. The head is tilted downward, the dentition finely indicated and the eyes inlaid with a dark material, identified in old documentation as horn.
The coat is entirely animated by fine parallel incisions whose orientation varies with the anatomy. The dark shade kept in the hollows contrasts with the brown-orange highlights, polished by use, giving the piece a particularly lively surface.
The underside shows a characteristic construction of a true functional netsuke: the spaces between the limbs form a natural himotoshi for the passing cord.
The motif of the yama-inu combined with a human skull is well documented in 19th-century Japanese netsuke and appears notably in the repertoire of the famous sculptor Kokei of Tsu. The present piece is unsigned and therefore not personally attributed to Kokei; however, its iconographic and stylistic vocabulary allows us to place it probably in the Tsu school and within Kokei’s stylistic tradition.
Provenance adds further interest: the piece comes from the former Richard R. Silverman collection (1932-2019), an important American netsuke collection. According to old documentation, it was acquired from Konishi in Los Angeles in 1977, before joining a European private collection.
Very good overall condition considering its age, with natural wear and polishing compatible with long use. No modern restoration was noted during photographic and video examination.
Dimensions: 5.2 × 5 × 2 cm. Weight: 20.4 g.
Japan, Edo period, 19th century. Unsigned.
video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wgknt72c2rfiad30if611/ABOARX0kNnzf7kL6aZRXDFA?rlkey=zp62wj2qe0l7kuur3mpc88sil&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 - Edo period
Century/timeframe
Fin de l’époque Edo, XIXe siècle
Name of object
Wooden netsuke of a yama-inu with a human skull — probably the Tsu school, Kokei tradition
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
1977
Material
Wood
Country acquired from
United States
Condition
Good overall condition, showing age-related wear, small marks, light scratches and rubbing
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
5.2 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2000
Width
5 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
Europe
Depth
2 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.
