86 - Ɏ RANICHI: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A TIGRESS WITH TWO CUBS

Ɏ RANICHI: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A TIGRESS WITH TWO CUBS By Ranichi, signed Ranichi 蘭一 Japan, Kyoto, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a tigress reclining in a powerful curve, one cub clambering across her back while the other nestles against her flank. The mother turns her head with a broad, alert expression, revealing her teeth beneath a pronounced muzzle and brows, while the rounded ears and massive paws are carefully modeled. The eyes are inlaid in mother-of-pearl and the coats are covered with dense, finely incised fur heightened with sumi. The ivory bearing a warm yellow tone. Natural himotoshi and signed RANICHI within an oval reserve. LENGTH 4.4 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and expected age cracks. Several eye inlays are old replacements. Ranichi was a pupil of Hogen Rantei and worked in a Kyoto idiom closely related to Unsho Hakuryu I. The broad physiognomy, powerful paws, and dense treatment of the fur in the present group underline that affinity. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a tigress with her cub by the same artist, signed Ranichi, 4.2 cm long, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 53 (sold for EUR 8,216 or approx. EUR 10,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a related ivory netsuke by Hakuryu I of the same subject, at Sotheby's, 14 July 2005, London, lot 1090 (sold for GBP 11,040 or approx. EUR 23,000 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 FR2408300200-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.