MINKO: A RARE TALL WOOD NETSUKE OF AN ITINERANT MONK

MINKO: A RARE TALL WOOD NETSUKE OF AN ITINERANT MONK
By Tanaka Juntoku Minko (1735-1816), signed Gose Minko 珉江 with kakihan
Japan, Tsu, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Published:
Migeon, Gaston (1905) Chefs-d'Oeuvre d'Art Japonais, no. 897
Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 513.
International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol. 35, no. 4, p. 46.
Boldly carved as an itinerant monk hiding a smile behind a deployed fan and holding a shakujo, a Buddhist rattle which was meant to warn even the smallest of creatures under his steps to avoid being tread upon. One foot is slightly raised lending movement to the composition. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina. Large chimney himotoshi through the back and underneath. Signed to the back Gose MINKO and kakihan.
HEIGHT 9.6 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor wear. The rope attached to the fan is repaired.
Provenance
: Ex-collection Louis Gonse (1846-1921), sold at his sale on 19th April 1926, lot 860. Re-sold at Hotel Drouot, Kahn-Dumousset on 20th October 2015, lot 96 (
hammer price 9,500 EUR
).