112 - Ɏ MITSUHIRO: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A TEAL DUCK

Ɏ MITSUHIRO: A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A TEAL DUCK By Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875), signed Ohara Mitsuhiro 大原 光廣 with kakihan Japan, Osaka, mid-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: 1. Rosemary Bandini, Shishi and Other Netsuke: The Collection of Harriet Szechenyi, London, 1999, p. 112, no. 164. 2. Mitsuhiro / Mikoshiba, Misao (transl.) (2001) Takarabukuro: A Netsuke Artist Notebook, pp. 102-103. Exquisitely carved as a plump teal resting in a compact, perfectly balanced posture, the rounded wings folded closely against its sides and the head gently lowered toward the breast. The smooth, swelling volumes of the forehead, breast, and body are superbly polished, giving the carving the exceptionally tactile quality so characteristic of Mitsuhiro's finest work. The beak is crisply delineated, the eyes inlaid in dark horn, while restrained staining around the facial features and recesses provides a subtle contrast to the lustrous, warmly patinated ivory. Signed OHARA MITSUHIRO with the artist's kakihan. LENGTH 4.6 cm Provenance: Ex-collection Raymond and Frances Bushell. Ex-Collection Harriet Szechenyi, Zurich, Switzerland, acquired from the above. Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 188 (sold for GBP 8,125 or approx. EUR 14,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). From a French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition with typical old wear and light traces of use. Few minor natural age cracks. The present netsuke is a quintessential example of Mitsuhiro's celebrated ability to reduce an animal to a few perfectly controlled, sensuous volumes, combining exceptional polish, subtle staining, and superb haptic quality. Its importance is further underscored by the fact that this very model is recorded in Mitsuhiro's own Takarabukuro, providing a rare direct link between the finished carving and the artist's personal working notebook. Museum comparison: Compare a near-identical ivory netsuke of a duck by the same artist, also signed Ohara Mitsuhiro with kakihan, 4.4 cm long, in the British Museum, registration number 1945,1017.592. Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2607505251-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.