Auction Catalog

An Auction of Fine Netsuke to Benefit the International Netsuke Society Coconut Grove - Miami, Florida Sunday, January 28th, 2007 This auction is organized by The International Netsuke Society to benefit the Association, and in conjunction with the 2007 Convention, located in Coconut Grove, Miami, Florida, January 26 - 31, 2007. Front cover illustration: Lot 5 a wood netsuke of Hondaka Sonja signed Itsumin Hokyudo (19th century) Back cover illustration: Lot 70 an ivory shunga netsuke of a naked woman holding a fan, unsigned (19th century) © The International Netsuke Society, 2006 Published by The International Netsuke Society www.netsuke.org Photography, design & production by Gilles Viewing Saturday January 27th 2 - 6 p.m. Sunday January 28th 3 - 6 p.m.
President’s Letter To all members of the International Netsuke Society, collectors, dealers and friends: This charity auction will be the first which I hope will inaugurate a new source of revenue for the International Netsuke Society. This is a group of auction quality netsuke for all collecting levels which can be had for very reasonable prices. I have personally selected all lots from various collectors and dealers who offered to let their treasures go at a most reasonable reserve, well below market or auction value. Beginning collector, advanced collector, or inro collector…there are netsuke for all. Neil Davey will afford us the honor of being the auctioneer and with his inimitable wit shall make it a pleasure for all of us to part with our money. This is a chance to support your society while getting a quality netsuke at a bargain price for your collection. A nice profit will be realized by the INS, especially if we sell all the pieces. As you know, present revenues do not meet the INS needs and we run at a deficit yearly. If we all support this auction we will all be winners; the purchaser will get a fine netsuke at a bargain price and the society will gain much needed funds. In the future the auction will grow in quantity and quality helping the society to grow and flourish. The auction will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at approximately 7:00 P.M. at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove Hotel in the main ballroom and should last about one hour. Bids will be taken at the auction itself, through dealers, or may be faxed to me at (305) 461 2400. All faxed orders must include a valid Visa, American Express, MasterCard, or other major credit card and valid signature. I am sorry we will be unable to take phone orders. At the auction we will take payment by cash, check, or credit card. There will be a 15% buyer’s premium added to the hammer price. The pieces must be paid for and picked up by noon the following day. PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR SOCIETY AT THE AUCTION…BUY!! Joe Kurstin, President International Netsuke Society Special thanks to those who provided these pieces and to the invaluable help of Gilles Lorin and Michael Strone in the production of this catalog.
1 Monkey on a chesnut Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 4.1 cm.	2 Mother and children Ivory, signed Seimin (19th century) 5.73 cm.
3 Three blindmen fighting Ivory, signed Ikkosai (19th century) 3.56 cm.	4 Tennin (Japanese Buddhist Angel) Ivory, signed Minkoku (19th century) 3.5 cm.
5 Hondaka Sonja Wood, signed Itsumin Hokyudo (19th century) 4.15 cm.	6 Head of kappa Molokai deer angler, signed ‘MHB’ on a gold plaque (Michael Birch, 20th century) 4.25 cm.
7 Ronin crouching with his hands on the hilt of his sword Wood, unsigned (19th century) 5.33 cm.	8 Toba on his mule Wood, unsigned (18th century) 6.6 cm.
9 Sennin Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 10.56 cm.	10 Westerner portrayed as Ashinaga Ivory, signed Rakusai (19th century) 14 cm.
11 Kwanyu Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 12.35 cm.	12 Standing horse Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 4.20 cm.
13 Tekkai Sennin holding his staff Wood, signed Norishige (19th century) 9.63 cm.	14 Daikoku wrapped up in a bag Wood, signed Shumin saku (19th century) 4.37 cm.
15 Reclining ox Wood, signed Minko with kakihan (18th century) 5 cm.	16 Tiger and cub Wood, signed Masayoshi (19th century) 3.45 cm.
17 Mendes Pinto and kirin Stained ivory, signed Komeisai (19th century) and inscribed ‘Tenmon hachi nen shichigatsu itsuka came’ [They came on 5th August of the 8th Year of Tenmon] 7.1 cm.	18 Oni polishing a bell [mokugyo] Ivory, signed Tomomasa (19th century) 4.15 cm.
19 I no Hayata killing the Nue Wood, signed Miwa with kakihan (19th century) 2.75 cm.	20 Gama Sennin carrying a toad on his back Wood, unsigned (18th century) 8.86 cm.
21 Tamamo no Maye Manju, ivory, signed Kikugawa Toun saku with seal “Seki”(19th century) 5.56 cm.	22 Seated monkey with the hand over its hears Wood, worn signature (19th century) 3.17 cm.
23 Drunken chonin holding a sake gourd Ivory, signed Ryukei (19th century) 6.14 cm.	24 Seated monkey looking up Wood, signed Masamitsu (19th century) 3.36 cm.
25 Dutchman holding a karako on his shoulder Ivory, unsigned (18th / 19th century) 6.7 cm.	26 Foreigner holding a dog in his arms Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 7.46 cm.
27 Tennin Obidome-style manju, ivory, unsigned (19th century) 3.94 cm.	28 Kintaro riding a carp Signed Toyomasa (19th century) 5 cm.
29 Hotei carrying on his shoulder a child holding a mask Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 5.90 cm.	30 Monkey seated on a turtle Stained boxwood, unsigned (19th century) 3.82 cm.
31 A Tengu hatching from an egg Stained boxwood, signed Tomokazu (19th century) 3.71 cm.	32 Cluster of seven rats Ivory, signed Tomochika (19th century) 4.23 cm.
33 An old grinning witch holding a mask of Hannya in her back Ivory, signed Hidemasa (19th century) 4.30 cm.	34 Oni holding a scroll depciting Shoki Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 5.2 cm.
35 Rat standing on a coiled rope Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 7.38 cm.
36 Sojobo instructing swordsmanship to Yoshitsune Ivory, unsigned (18th / 19th century) 5.2 cm.	37 Snarling Tiger Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 4.86 cm.
38 Reclining horse biting its flank Stained boxwood, unsigned (19th century) 4.2 cm.	39 Gama Sennin carrying a large toad on his back Ivory, signed Masatomo (18th century) 5.21 cm.
40 Jurojin, God of Longevity, with stork Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 5.83 cm.	41 Sojobo seated and holding a scroll Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 3.9 cm.
42 Reclining ox Ivory, with signature Tomotada (18th century) 5.40 cm.
43 Uba Painted boxwood, unsigned (19th century) 4.72 cm.	44 Shoki holding an oni by the neck Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 6.7 cm.
45 Bat Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 4.1 cm.
46 Monkey eating a fruit on a raft Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 5.9 cm.
47 Karako as a Shishimai dancer Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 6.82 cm.	48 Ama (Pearl diver) holding a shell Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 6.85 cm.
49 Fukurokuju Ivory, unsigned (17th century) 5.1 cm.	50 Caparisoned elephant Walrus tooth ivory, unsigned (18th / 19th century) 4.07 cm.
51 Coiled dragon amongst cloud Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 4.45 cm.	52 Shoki Ivory, signed Tomochika (19th century) 5.45 cm.
53 Actor holding a fan in one hand and a puppet in the other Stag antler, unsigned (17th / 18th century) 4.27 cm.	54 Oni slicing a daikon Ivory, Unsigned (19th century) 2.84 cm.
55 Tiger Wood, signed Kokei (19th century) 4 cm.	56 Crouching tengu holding an egg Ivory, Signed Genichi (late 18th / early 19th century) 4.67 cm.
57 Dressed monkey holding a mask of Okame Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 3.3 cm.	58 Sennin carrying a shishi on his back and holding a hossu Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 8.9 cm.
59 Hotei seated on his large sack and playing with rats Ivory, signed Masahiro (19th century) 6.4 cm.
60 Sennin holding a scroll Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 9 cm.	61 Hotei seated on his large sack Marine ivory, signed Mitsutaka (19th century) 3.97 cm.
62 Frog wrapped in a lotus leaf Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 5.75 cm.	63 Sennin holding a tama (sacred pearl) Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 9.8 cm.
64 Mokugyo Ivory, unsigned (19th century) 3.46 cm.	65 Three monkeys eating fruits Wood, signed Tomokazu (19th century) 3.47 cm.
66 Shishi and young Ivory, signed Gyokuyosai (19th century) 3.25 cm.	67 A seated skeleton beating a mokugyo Ivory, signed Tomochika (19th century) 3.36 cm.
68 Tiger Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 4.35 cm.	69 Seal-form with a shishi on a brocade ball Ivory, unsigned (18th century) 3.81 cm.
70 Naked woman holding a fan (shunga) Unsigned (19th century) 3.88 cm.	71 Monkey dressed a Sambaso dancer Unsigned (19th century) 3.48 cm.
Conditions of Sale Property is offered for sale by the International Netsuke Society either as principal or as agent for the consignee. By bidding at auction, the bidder/buyer agrees to be bound by these conditions of sale. All property is sold “as is,” in its current condition with all defects and blemishes as they may be found. Any representation in the auction catalogue or otherwise as to attribution, origin, date, age, provenance, condition or estimated selling price is a statement of opinion only. All interested parties should exercise their own judgment as to such matters. The International Netsuke Society shall not bear responsibility for the correctness of such opinions. All sales are final. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the buyer. The auctioneer shall have the right to reject any bid and to advance the bidding at his sole and absolute discretion. In the event of any dispute between or among bidders, the auctioneer shall have the right—again in his sole and absolute discretion—to determine the successful bidder or to reoffer or resell the item in dispute. Should there be any dispute after the sale, the auctioneer’s record of final sale shall be conclusive. On the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer, title to the offered lot shall pass to the successful bidder (now considered the buyer), who shall forthwith assume full risk and responsibility for the offered lot and may be required to sign confirmation of purchase, supply his/her full name and address and to pay the full purchase price at the sale, unless subject to prior arrangements. If the buyer fails to comply with any such requirement, the buyer shall be subject to the laws of the State of Florida, County of Dade and—without any obligation so to do—the lot, at the auctioneer’s discretion, may be put up again and sold. The International Netsuke Society reserves the absolute right to withdraw any property at any time prior to its actual, final sale. All lots in this catalogue are subject to a reserve—the confidential minimum price acceptable to the current owner/consignor. No reserve shall exceed the low presale estimate as set forth in the catalogue. The purchase price paid by the buyer shall be the sum of the final bid and a buyer’s premium of 15% of the final bid on each lot, plus all applicable sales tax. All property must be paid for and removed promptly at the conclusion of the auction. If not so removed, storage charges may be imposed of $10.00 per lot per day. In addition, a late charge of 1.5% per month of the total purchase price may be imposed if payment is not made. Absentee buyers are expected to have made shipping arrangements prior to the date of sale, the cost of which are to be borne by such absentee buyer. The International Netsuke Society is not responsible for unsold lots left with the Society 90 days from the date of sale. The International Netsuke Society accepts no responsibility for the errors relating to the execution or absentee or commission bids. There will be no telephone or internet bidding available for this sale. Auction Estimates Monkey on chestnut, ivory, unsigned…………………………….$2,300-2,600 Mother and children, ivory, Seimin………………………………$2,300-2,600 Three blindmen, ivory, Ikkosai…………….……………………..$2,300-2,600 Tennin, ivory, Minkoku…………………………...……………...$2,300-2,600 Hondaka Sonja, wood, Itsumin…………………………..…...…$1,800-2,200 Head of Kappa, Molokai deer antler, Michael Birch………..……$2,500-3,500 Ronin, wood, unsigned…………………………………….….....$2,500-2,900 Toba on mule, wood, unsigned…………………………..…...….$1,000-1,400 Sennin, ivory, unsigned…………………………………..…...….$2,300-2,800 Ashinaga as westerner, ivory, Rakusai..……………………...…..$1,500-2,000 Kanyu, ivory, unsigned……………………………………….....$3,500-4,500 Horse, standing, ivory, unsigned………………………..……......$1,200-1,700 Tekkai sennin, wood, Norishige………………………..……...…$2,800-3,300 Daikoku, wood, Shumin…………………………….…………...$1,000-1,500 Ox, reclining, wood, Minko……………………….…………......$2,800-3,500 Tiger and cub, wood, Masayoshi……………….....……………..$1,000-1,500 Mendes Pinto, kirin, stained ivory, Komeisai……….…………….$1,800-2,500 Oni polishing bell, ivory, Tomomasa…………………………...…$1,600-2,000 I no Hayata killing Nue, wood, Miwa……………...……………..$1,200-1,500 Gama Sennin, wood, unsigned…………………...…………….....$2,000-2,600 Manju-Tamamo no Maye, ivory, Kikugawa Toun…...………...….$2,300-2,800 Monkey, ears covered, wood, worn signature……………….........$1,200-1,500 Drunken chonin, ivory, Ryukei……………………………....….....$1,900-2,500 Seated Monkey, wood, Masamitsu……………......………………$1,800-2,400 Dutchman with Karako, ivory, unsigned……………...…………….$1,800-2,400 Foreigner with dog, ivory, unsigned…………………..…...………..$2,300-2,600 Manju-Tennin ivory, unsigned………………………....…………..$1,800-2,200 Kintaro on a Carp, ivory, Toyomasa……..………………………..$2,300-2,600 Hotei, child and mask, ivory, unsigned……………….…………….$ 600- 900 Monkey on turtle, wood, unsigned…………………...……………$1,800-2,400 Tengu-no-tomago, wood, Tomokazu………………...……………$1,800-2,400 Cluster seven Rats, ivory, Tomochika……………………………..$2.300-2,600 Hag with Hannya mask, ivory, Hidemasa……………...…………..$1,800-2,400 Oni with scroll, ivory, unsigned……………………………………$1.000-1,400 Rat on coiled rope, ivory, unsigned………………………………..$1,800-2,400 Sojobo and Yoshitsune, ivory, unsigned…………………………..$1,800-2,400 Tiger, ivory, unsigned………………………………………………$3,200-4,500 Reclining Horse biting flank, wood, unsigned………………..…...$1,800-2,400 Gama Sennin, ivory, Masatomo……………………………………$1,600-2,100 Jurojin with Crane, ivory, unsigned……………………………….$ 900-1,200 Sojobo holding scroll, ivory, unsigned…………………………...$1,500-1,800 Ox, reclining, ivory, inscribed Tomotada………………………..$1,200-1,600 Uba, painted boxwood, unsigned……………………………..…..$ 600- 800 Shoki and Oni, ivory, unsigned……………………………….….$1,100-1,500 Bat, ivory, unsigned……………………………………………… $1,200-1,600 Monkey on raft, ivory, unsigned………………………………….$ 600- 900 Karako as shishimai, ivory, unsigned…………………………….$1,200-1,600 Ama (pearl; diver), ivory, unsigned………………………………$2,300-2,600 Fukurokuju, ivory, unsigned……………………………………...$ 500- 700 Elephant, caparisoned, walrus tooth, unsigned………...………..$1,500-1,800 Dragon, ivory, unsigned…………………………………………...$2,800-3,500 Shoki, ivory, Tomochika…………………………………………..$1,000-1,500 Actor, puppet and fan, stagantler, unsigned……………………..$ 500- 800 Oni slicing daikon, ivory, unsigned……………………………….$1,000-1,400 Tiger, wood, Kokei…………………………………………………$2,500-3,200 Tengu with egg, ivory, Genichi……………………………………$1,500-1,900 Monkey holding Okame mask, ivory, unsigned………………….$1,600-2,000 Sennin with Shishi and hossu, ivory, unsigned…………..……….$1,400-1,900 Hotei and rats, ivory, Masahiro………………………………...…$1,100-1,600 Sennin with scroll, ivory, unsigned………………………………..$2,000-2,600 Hotei on sack, marine ivory, Mitsutaka…………..………………$ 800-1,000 Frog in lotus leaf, ivory, unsigned…………………………………$1,200-1,500 Sennin with Tama, ivory, unsigned………………………………..$1,500-1,900 Mokugyo, ivory, unsigned………………………………………….$ 700-1,000 Monkeys, three eating fruit, wood,Tomokazu……………………$1,000-1,500 Shishi and young, ivory, Gyokuyosai……………………………...$3,200-3,900 Skeleton and Mokugyo, ivory, Tomochika………………………..$1,000-1,400 Tiger, seated, ivory, unsigned…………………………………..….$3,000-3,900 Seal with Shishi on brocade ball, ivory, unsigned………………...$2,300-2,500 Shunga Woman with fan, ivory, unsigned………………………...$2,300-2,600 Monkeyas Sambaso dancer, ivory, unsigned……………………...$2,300-2,600 ALL SALES ARE FINAL. PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY CASH, CHECK, OR CREDIT CARD AT END OF AUCTION. LOTS MUST BE PICKED UP BY NOON ON MONDAY.

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