A rustic but fine netsuke, dating to the first half of the 18th century, and of considerable size depicting a duck with its head turned back and preening itself with its large and smooth beak. The wood is of a very good color and is lightly stained and worn. The top edge of the wings, as well as the eyes, are inlaid with silver. The underside with the two webbed feet and large himotoshi.

This netsuke has historical significance since it belongs to the rare group of netsuke dated to the early 18th century, which serve, above all, a functional purpose. The very first netsuke were basic objects such as gourd or discs, essentially any object from daily life that could be suspended on an obi (belt). Sometimes little details or himotoshi were added, but it was by no means an art form, as it is considered today. This netsuke, which is quite simple and shows wear, carved from a block of boxwood and imbued with individual character and charm while keeping a semblance of power, therefore shows an intermediary stage, one of the first ‘great netsuke’, before the respected netsukeshi of the late 18th century from Kyoto, which ultimately led to the incredibly detailed non-functional netsuke of the late period.

In the list by Neil K. Davey he describes this netsuke as ‘a very fine and important duck’ with the remark ‘very best’ and the highest estimate of the collection.

Category:

Netsuke

Subcategory:

-

Subject:

Animal

Material:

Wood

Age/Country:

18th Century

Artist:

-

Provenance/Owner:

Galerie Zacke

Signed:

unsigned

Type:

Katabori

Height:

43mm mm

Width:

61mm mm

Depth:

mm

ID number: