YASUAKI: A SUPERB INLAID IVORY TOKYO SCHOOL NETSUKE OF NASAKEJI OPENING THE TREA...

YASUAKI: A SUPERB INLAID IVORY TOKYO SCHOOL NETSUKE OF NASAKEJI OPENING THE TREASURE BOX
By Kodama Yasuaki, signed Yasuaki (Homei)
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

An incredibly fine and detailed study of Nasakeji opening a treasure box, the inside showing coins, scrolls and jewelry inlaid in stained horn, ivory, mother-of-pearl and tortoise shell. This depiction relates to the story of the tongue cut sparrow. Nasakeji, here shown as a bucktoothed old and simple man, is visibly surprised from the contents of the box – the facial features are sensitively crafted with a superior sense of detail. The backside shows a tabako-ire set tied to his obi, with a coral netsuke, mother-of-pearl ojime, greenstained ivory cord and a tortoise shell tonkotsu. The underside shows the himotoshi and signature YASUAKI 保明 (Homei) with inlaid seal Kodama 見玉.

HEIGHT 3.8 cm

Condition: Superb condition.
Provenance: French private collection.

Auction comparison: An almost identical model was just sold recently by Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 197.