GYOKUSEN: A FINE INLAID EBONY NETSUKE OF A CORAL FISHERMAN

GYOKUSEN: A FINE INLAID EBONY NETSUKE OF A CORAL FISHERMAN
By Gyokusen, signed Gyokusen 玉川
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century
The South Sea islander standing with a delighted expression on his face as he holds a jar from which a choice piece of coral rises, his features neatly detailed, the mouth agape revealing his coral-inlaid tongue, his loincloth with two himotoshi and the signature GYOKUSEN to the back.
HEIGHT 5.5 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor surface wear, a tiny chip to the rim of the jar and a minuscule nick to one of the himotoshi.
Provenance:
Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt.
Although Gyokusen Tomochika of Kyoto carved a number of related ebony netsuke depicting similar subjects, the present netsuke is more in line with Edo school works, such as similar carvings by Minkoku and Jugyoku.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related netsuke depicting the same subject by Jugyoku, dated approx. 1850-1900, in the collection of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, object number B70Y1615.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related netsuke of two coral fishermen by Minkoku, also dated mid-19th century, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 156 (
sold for 5,688 EUR
).