50 - Ɏ A POWERFUL IVORY NETSUKE OF RYUJIN’S OCTOPUS-HEADED ATTENDANT

Ɏ A POWERFUL IVORY NETSUKE OF RYUJIN’S OCTOPUS-HEADED ATTENDANT Unsigned Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A powerful ivory netsuke, dynamic and bold in its execution, depicting one of the two attendants of Ryujin - the Dragon King of the Sea and Ruler of Seas and Tides. The attendant is shown standing upright, raising one leg, his face expressively carved with furrowed brows and a square jaw, wearing only a tied loincloth, his exposed muscular arms and ribcage powerfully sculpted. An octopus sits plump on his head, as the attendant firmly grips a sacred jewel. The ivory bearing a rich, honey-gold patina. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the back. HEIGHT 8.2 cm Provenance: Ex-collection Frank Lapisch. Frank Lapisch (1934-2002) was a German entrepreneur and dedicated netsuke collector who first traveled to Japan in 1960 as a German judo champion. He later founded the Tokyo-based electronics firm Alltec in 1972 while deepening his engagement with Japanese art and craftsmanship. From the late 1970s onward, he pursued the study and acquisition of netsuke with increasing discernment, carefully documenting purchases made at auction houses such as Lempertz and Klefisch. He showed a particular preference for early ‘ur-netsuke,’ prized for their expressive carving and richly developed, glossy wear patina. Condition: Very good condition with old wear and expected age cracks. Auction comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke depicting Ryujin, also unsigned but likely carved by the same studio, 9.3 cm high, at Bonhams, The James A. Rose Collection of Netsuke and Sagemono, 17 September 2013, New York, lot 2081, (sold for USD 50,000 or approx. EUR 61,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Also compare a closely related ivory netsuke depicting Ryujin’s attendant, also unsigned but likely carved from the same studio, 8.4 cm high, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 9 May 2025, Vienna, lot 111 (sold for EUR 3,120). Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number DE-K-260427-162). 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.