136 - SUKETADA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A SHISHI WITH A BALL

SUKETADA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A SHISHI WITH A BALL By Eguro Suketada (1851-1915), signed Suketada 亮忠 Japan, Takayama, Hida province, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Superbly carved as a powerful shishi crouching protectively over a large openwork ball, its muscular body enveloped in a luxuriant mane rendered in deeply carved, curling locks. The fierce head is animated by bulging eyes, furrowed brows, a broad nose, and a gaping mouth revealing sharp teeth and its protruding tongue. The rounded limbs are boldly modeled, the paws firmly planted around the ball, while the voluminous mane cascades down the back in sweeping, individually articulated locks. Natural himotoshi and signed SUKETADA within an inlaid rectangular reserve. LENGTH 4 cm Condition: Restoration to the claws of one paw. Otherwise, excellent condition. Eguro Suketada (1851-1915) came from the lineage of Eguro Sukeharu (1831-1901) and Hirata Suketomo (1809-1847), one of the founding figures of the Hida school of carving. The present subject was one of Suketada’s favored models. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a Shishi with brocade ball by the same artist, signed Suketada, 4 cm wide, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 143 (sold for GBP 4,062 or approx. EUR 6,200 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).