† GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAIS

Estimate 500 - 1 000 EUR

Starting price 500 EUR

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For sale on Tuesday 03 Sep : 11:00 (CEST)

vienna, Austria

Galerie Zacke
+4315320452

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GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAISHI GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAISHI By Gyokkei, signed Gyokkei 玉珪 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), second half of 19th century Depicting an old masseur crouching to lift a strength stone, his muscular arms wrapped around the heavy rock as his knees attempt to pull the weight. The face contorted into a grimace, showing the strain, his dead bulging eye cleverly inlaid in bone as are his teeth, visible behind his distorted lips. The emaciated body clad in a simple loincloth, a stray testicle humorously escaping the incised folds. The underside with two good himotoshi, one lined in horn. Signed on an inlaid tablet GYOKKEI. LENGTH 3.9 cm Condition: Good condition with minor wear. Light scratches, and small chips to one foot which have smoothened over time. Provenance: From the private collection of Armand Basi. A copy of the collector’s notes, no. 1014, accompanies this lot. Inscribed to the foot ‘39’. Armand Basi (1924-2009) was a Spanish businessman and fashion designer, co-founder of the fashion firm bearing his name. He was a Japanese art enthusiast and amassed a large collection of netsuke in his lifetime. In 1948, along with his brother Josep, Armand Basi founded a small knitting company inspired by their mother Mercé Sabi's knitted sweaters. By the end of the 1950s the business had expanded into a large textiles company, opening a factory on Balcells Street in Barcelona in 1958. In 1961–62, the Basis signed an exclusive contract with Lacoste to manufacture and distribute Lacoste products in Spain. In 1986, Basi launched his eponymous fashion brand, which produced accessories, perfume, jewelry and watches, as well as clothing in more than 400 stores across Spain, Europe, North America and Asia. Massage plays an important role in Japanese medicine. Mainly practiced by the blind, who strengthened their muscles in between with the help of chikaraishi or strength stones, chikaraishi have been used since at least the 8th century and even today can be found at some Shinto shrines, where they were used for competitions of strength, or for divination purposes. Today some have been designated as Important Cultural Asset.

Lot 544

Estim. 200 - 400 EUR

GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAISHI GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAISHI By Gyokkei, signed Gyokkei 玉珪 Japan, Edo (Tokyo), second half of 19th century Depicting an old masseur crouching to lift a strength stone, his muscular arms wrapped around the heavy rock as his knees attempt to pull the weight. The face contorted into a grimace, showing the strain, his dead bulging eye cleverly inlaid in bone as are his teeth, visible behind his distorted lips. The emaciated body clad in a simple loincloth. The underside with two good himotoshi and signature on an inlaid tablet GYOKKEI. HEIGHT 3.8 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and few scratches to the underside. Provenance: From the private collection of Armand Basi. A copy of the collector’s notes, no. 524, accompanies this lot. Armand Basi (1924-2009) was a Spanish businessman and fashion designer, co-founder of the fashion firm bearing his name. He was a Japanese art enthusiast and amassed a large collection of netsuke in his lifetime. In 1948, along with his brother Josep, Armand Basi founded a small knitting company inspired by their mother Mercé Sabi's knitted sweaters. By the end of the 1950s the business had expanded into a large textiles company, opening a factory on Balcells Street in Barcelona in 1958. In 1961–62, the Basis signed an exclusive contract with Lacoste to manufacture and distribute Lacoste products in Spain. In 1986, Basi launched his eponymous fashion brand, which produced accessories, perfume, jewelry and watches, as well as clothing in more than 400 stores across Spain, Europe, North America and Asia. Massage plays an important role in Japanese medicine. Mainly practiced by the blind, who strengthened their muscles in between with the help of chikaraishi or strength stones, chikaraishi have been used since at least the 8th century and even today can be found at some Shinto shrines, where they were used for competitions of strength, or for divination purposes. Today some have been designated as Important Cultural Assets.

Lot 562

Estim. 250 - 500 EUR

A LOT WITH A KAGAMIBUTA NETSUKE AND AN ASTHRAY NETSUKE A LOT WITH A KAGAMIBUTA NETSUKE AND AN ASTHRAY NETSUKE Unsigned Japan, 19th century or later Comprising a kagamibuta netsuke with wooden bowl and bronze plate, depicting a bijin playing a flute, and an ashtray netsuke, the wood bowl lined in metal to the interior so that the netsuke could be used as an ashtray, the central himotoshi with a stag antler plug. DIAMETER 4.1 cm and 4.8 cm Condition: Good condition with signs of wear, nicks, scratches, and fine natural age cracks.

Lot 677

Estim. 500 - 1 000 EUR

A LOT WITH FOUR LACQUER AND WOOD NETSUKE A LOT WITH FOUR LACQUER AND WOOD NETSUKE Japan, 19th to early 20th century. Comprising a lacquered netsuke of a reclining sarumawashi, a lacquered mokugyo netsuke, a wooden netsuke depicting a clam’s dream with the palace of Ryujin between the slightly opened shells, and a wood netsuke carved as a pouch with brocade patterns. LENGTH 3.1 – 5.8 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, few light scratches, and tiny nicks.

† GYOKKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A BLIND MAN LIFTING A CHIKARAIS

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