57 - Ɏ A FINE AND UNUSUAL IVORY NETSUKE OF A EUROPEAN GENTLEMAN, EX BEHRENS COLLECTION

Ɏ A FINE AND UNUSUAL IVORY NETSUKE OF A EUROPEAN GENTLEMAN, EX BEHRENS COLLECTION Unsigned Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Joly, Henri L. (1912), The W.L. Behrens Collection, Part I, Netsuke, London, 1913, p. 190, no. 448, illustrated on pl. X. Exquisitely carved as an unusually tall and slender European gentleman standing in a pronounced, almost theatrical contrapposto, his body gently swaying to one side as both hands grasp the turned-back lapels of a long coat. The unusual costume is fastened by prominent buttons at the shoulders, sweeping folds around a close-fitting undergarment terminating in rounded shoes. The elongated figure is imbued with remarkable animation, the narrow shoulders, attenuated limbs, and expressive pose lending it an almost caricatural elegance. Particularly striking is the vividly modeled face, framed by short, tousled hair and a pointed beard, with narrowed eyes, raised brows, and the mouth open as though caught in animated speech. Excellent himotoshi to the back, the larger hole of oval shape. The ivory bearing a fine, warm yellow-toned patina. HEIGHT 8.3 cm Provenance: Ex-collection W. L. Behrens (1861-1913). Ex-collection Madelyn Hickmott. Sotheby’s, Fine Netsuke, Inro and Lacquer from the Estate of Madlyn Hickmott, 8 February 1989, New York, lot 154 (sold for GBP 2,310 or approx. EUR 7,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). From a noted French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with only minor wear and expected age cracks. One button inlay is lost. Joly intriguingly suggested that the figure may represent a specific European resident in Japan, rather than a generalized foreigner type. He also noted the unusual combination garment, comparing it to clothing worn by American mechanics, which further underscores the distinctly individualized and possibly observational character of the carving. Literature comparison: Compare a related unusual wood netsuke of a bearded foreigner in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A Comprehensive Study Based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 399, no. 1187. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number IT/CE/2024/MI/00323). 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.