FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF GROUP OF GOATS

A FINE IVORY NETSUKE OF GROUP OF GOATS AFTER KAIGYOKUSAI MASATSUGU (1813-1892)Signed Kaigyokusai, After Kaigyokusai Masatsugu, ivory netsukeJapan, Osaka or Tokyo, mid to late 19th centuryA large recumbent goat with two young goats. The heads are finely carved, the mother goat is proud and lively in a subtle manner, all eyes inlaid with black horn. The composition is full of movement with both young goats in different attitudes – one on her back and the other just in front of the mother, nestled up to her and the head tilted upwards, the curvature of the body being fully expressed. The choice piece of ivory is left unstained and is beautifully polished, characteristic for the artist. The sheep or goat (hitsuji) is one of the twelve signs of the Japanese zodiac. The underside with bed of leaves, one extending up over the right hindleg of the mother goat. Small himotoshi and signature in a semi-polished reserve on the underside, reading KAIGYOKUSAI for Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892), arguably the greatest netsuke carver of the 19th century, though this work was most likely made by a very talented pupil, possibly even in Tokyo, where he (or one of his students) established a school in the late 19th century.LENGTH 4.5 CMCondition: Very good condition with very minor discoloration in some areas to the ivoryProvenance: British private collection

Category:
-
Subcategory:
-
Subject:
Animal
Material:
Ivory
Age/Country:
19th Century
Artist:
-
Provenance/Owner:
Galerie Zacke
Signed:
unsigned
Type:
Katabori
Height:
45mm mm
Width:
mm
Depth:
mm
ID number:

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