MASANAO SHINZAN: A FINE BOXWOOD NETSUKE OF A BOAR

MASANAO SHINZAN: A FINE BOXWOOD NETSUKE OF A BOAR By Masanao Shinzan (1904-1982), signed Masanao Shinzan 正直辰山 Japan, Yamada, Ise province, 1970s Finely carved, the creature raising its head, the eyes inlaid in amber, the small tusks at the corner of the mouth showing, the hairwork superbly incised and finely stained. The bulky animal has one hoof dynamically poised while the others are firmly on the ground as if the boar were rising to its feet. Natural himotoshi through the right hindleg. Signed within a polished oval reserve MASANAO SHINZAN. LENGTH 5.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor expected wear. Provenance: Private collection of Heidi Haupt-Battaglia (1921-2019), Switzerland. A copy of the collector’s notes describing the present netsuke accompanies this lot. Masanao Shinzan (1904-1982) was a member of the Masanao family of Yamada, a family of carvers that went back four generations. He carved solely from tsuge (boxwood). After several financial setbacks, Shinzan was compelled to carve for the commercial market. However, at 69 a dealer in Hakone began sponsoring the artist to produce higher quality pieces. To distinguish these later pieces from his earlier commercial carvings, Shinzan would sign his highest quality pieces ‘Shinzan Masanao’. The Masanao lineage has been carried on by Shinzan’s daughter Masami, who is the last surviving member of the family and an active carver to this day. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a family of boars by Shinzan Masanao, also signed Masanao Shinzan, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 19 March 2014, New York, lot 3129 (sold for USD 4,000).