107 - Ɏ A CHARMING AND RARE OSAKA SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF TWO LUNAR HARES POUNDING MOCHI

Ɏ A CHARMING AND RARE OSAKA SCHOOL IVORY NETSUKE OF TWO LUNAR HARES POUNDING MOCHI Unsigned Japan, Osaka, early 19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Charming and humorously carved as two hares pounding mochi, one standing behind the mortar and vigorously raising the pestle while the other leans forward to knead the dough. The latter turns his head anxiously toward his companion, his wide-eyed expression and open mouth suggesting that he fears the pestle may strike his paws, adding a delightful touch of humor to the scene. The hares are sensitively modeled with long ears, rounded bodies, and powerful hind legs, while the mochi is visible within the finely carved mortar, its surface carefully incised to imitate the grain of the wood. Himotoshi to the reverse. The ivory bears an attractive warm honey-yellow tone patina. HEIGHT 3.5 cm Condition: Very good condition with old wear and few minor expected age cracks. This popular motif originates in China, where the Jade Rabbit is associated with the moon and traditionally shown pounding the elixir of immortality. In Japan, the image was reinterpreted as the lunar hare pounding mochi. Usually depicted as a single hare, the representation of two hares working together is highly unusual and rarely encountered in netsuke, making the present example particularly distinctive. Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke of a lunar hare with a wooden mortar, also unsigned, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 310, no. 944. Auction comparison: Compare a related Osaka school ivory netsuke of a lunar hare, by Shigemasa, 4.2 cm long, at Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 132 (sold for GBP 2,250 or approx. EUR 4,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Trade Certificate: In accordance with new EU regulations that went into effect in January 2022, we have applied for a certificate to sell this item within the EU. We expect the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology to issue the certificate in 2-3 weeks. The item can only be shipped / handed over once the certificate has been issued. 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.