A NATURALISTIC LACQUERED IVORY NETSUKE OF A CICADA ON A TREE TRUNK BY SENPO (1919 – 1994)
Coloured ivory netsukeJapan20th centurySenpo Kobayashi (1919-1994) was a netsuke artist who specialized on super naturalistic models of insects. His works are featured in the collection of Prince Takamado in the national museum of Tokyo and the artist is mentioned in Miriam Kinsey’s ‘Living masters of Netsuke’. This cicada is very well executed, with accurately carved anatomical details. Its appearance is so real one can almost hear the cicada sing. The cicada is covered in an orange-brown coating of lacquer, and the tree trunk is covered in a slightly darker shade of lacquer, brilliantly imitating the act of camouflage by the cicada. The grain of the wood and the branch attachments have been executed to perfection; one larger and one smaller himotoshi on the backside with the signature SENPO in a rectangular reserve. Also note the humorous difference in size between the cicada and the tree.LENGTH 5.4 CMCondition: Excellent conditionProvenance: Austrian private collectionAuction comparison: For another model of a cicada by the artist see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, London, 12 Mai 2009, lot 152.