105 - Ɏ OKATORI: A CHARMING KYOTO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A HARE WITH BIWA (LOQUATS)

Ɏ OKATORI: A CHARMING KYOTO SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF A HARE WITH BIWA (LOQUATS) By Yamaguchi Okatori, signed Okatori 岡隹 Japan, Kyoto, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved and delicately stained, the plump hare seated on its haunches, its forepaws resting possessively upon a leafy cluster of three ripe biwa (loquats). The animal raises its head with a contented expression, its long ears laid back and alert eyes inlaid in dark horn, matching the horn-inlaid details of the fruit. The compact rounded body is covered in meticulously incised fur, finely heightened with dark staining, while the loquats and leaves are crisply detailed. Natural himotoshi. Signed underneath within a polished rectangular reserve OKATORI. The ivory bearing a fine, warm yellowish patina. LENGTH 3.5 cm Provenance: Ex-collection Frank Lapisch, acquired in March 1986. 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: Good condition with minor wear and expected age cracks. The left ear with an old repair and the right ear with a tiny nick. One horn inlay to a loquat partially lost. Presenting very well. Yamaguchi Okatori was a brother and pupil of the celebrated Kyoto master Yamaguchi Okatomo and one of the most accomplished animal carvers of the Kyoto school. Meinertzhagen considered him “the most brilliant of Okatomo’s pupils,” praising the delicacy, charm, vitality, and individuality of his animal carvings. Okatori appears to have particularly excelled in compact, highly refined compositions, characterized by meticulous hairwork, sensitive modeling, and lively expressions - the present hare being an excellent example. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a hare with loquats by the same artist, signed Okatori, 3 cm high, illustrated in Joe Earle (2001) Netsuke, Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture, Boston, MFA Publications, pp. 34-35. Museum comparison: Compare a related ivory and whale tooth netsuke of a rabbit with loquats by Okatomo, 3.5 cm long, in the British Museum, registration number HG.440. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a hare with loquats by the same artist, signed Okatori, dated early 19 th century, 4.5 cm wide, at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke, 8 November 2016, London, lot 71 (sold for GBP 5,625 or approx. EUR 9,500 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 DE-K-260427-163). 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.