AN IVORY ‘RYUSA-STYLE’ MANJU NETSUKE DEPICTING FIFTEEN NOH MASKS BY ICHIJO HAKUUNSAI II
Ivory netsukeJapan, Tokyo/Edomid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The netsuke has a manju shape, however is completely hollowed out and openworked in ryusa style. Depicted is a dense cluster of fifteen noh masks including Okina, Okame, Manbi (young woman), Tengu, Hyottoko, Hannya, Oni, Kojo (old man), Shojo, Daikoku, Ono no Komachi, Buaku, Kitsune and Shikami. The florally-ringed himotoshi is inset with a copper ring next to the minutely carved signature HAKUUNSAI.Meinertzhagen writes on the artist “among the more distinguished netsuke carvers of his day. His earlier work consisting of mask groups, like that of Hakuunsai I, being of bold design but far surpassing those of his master in both artistic spirit and craftsmanship”.SIZE 4.5 x 5 CMCondition: Excellent condition; good patinaProvenance: Collection of Sam Felton with CITES permit no. 18US59513C/9. Purchased from Kurstin/Chappell on May 21st 1982 (old invoice available).Literature: Compare to another model signed Hakuunsai depicting fifteen masks in the Baur collection, Marie-Therese Coullery and Martin S. Newstead, Geneve, 1977, page 260, C 766.