Ɏ A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A KITSUNE (FOX) AND CUB

Ɏ A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A KITSUNE (FOX) AND CUB Unsigned Japan, 18th century The fox seated seated, her head turned down to the right and her brush erect as she rests one fore paw protectively on her recumbent offspring, resting and leaning against her forelimb. The curious faces carved with elongated eyes inlaid in dark horn, alert ears, and a slightly ajar mouth revealing the teeth within. Natural himotoshi. LENGTH 5.4 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and age cracks. One small chip to the vixen’s ear and minor nibbling to the cubs ears. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. The Japanese fox (kitsune) is believed to have magical powers. It has the ability to bewitch people and cast spells upon them. Foxes were supposed to live to a great age and to be able to assume human form on reaching one hundred, when they might appear in the guise of a priest or a woman. Possession by a fox (kitsune-tsuki) was a nervous disorder once common in Japan. The person possessed hears and understands everything that the fox inside says, or thinks, and the two often engage in a loud and violent dispute, the fox speaking in a voice altogether different from that of the individual. The spirits of the dead ride upon foxes, and they are said to haunt graves; they are also responsible for the foxfire (kitsune-bi) or will-o’-the wisp. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a fox with ball, likely by the same artist or studio, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 19067. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a fox and cub, likely by the same artist or studio, at Christie’s, The Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection of Netsuke, Part I, 27 October 1987, London, lot 268 (sold for GBP 1,430 or approx. EUR 6,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a fox and cub, likely by the same artist or studio, at Sotheby’s, Fine Netsuke and Ojime, 14 March 1984, London, lot 131 (sold for GBP 3,080 or approx. EUR 16,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2307513766-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.