153 - TOYOMASA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF KIKAZARU FROM THE SAMBIKI SARU

TOYOMASA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF KIKAZARU FROM THE SAMBIKI SARU By Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856), signed Toyomasa 豊昌 Japan, Sasayama, Tanba province, first half of the 19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved in a compact, rounded form as Kikazaru, the ‘hear no evil’ monkey of the sambiki saru, crouching with its powerful haunches drawn closely against the body and both long arms raised to cover its ears. The monkey gazes outward with an amusingly solemn expression, its sensitively modeled face with a broad muzzle and large eyes inlaid in pale translucent horn with dark pupils. The fur is finely engraved throughout, while the underside is superbly finished, the feet neatly tucked together. Asymmetrical himotoshi underneath and signed TOYOMASA within a characteristic oval reserve to the back. HEIGHT 2.9 cm, LENGTH 3.2 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Minor old wear. The eyes are possibly replaced. Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856) was the pre-eminent carver of the Tanba school, celebrated above all for his expressive animal netsuke. This particular monkey model was treated by several members of the school, including Nanboku, each with some individuality. The present example is a particularly convincing work by Toyomasa: the facial type closely recalls some of his finest monkey carvings, while the signature is firmly and confidently cut within the characteristic oval reserve. The sambiki saru, or Three Wise Monkeys, comprise Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru, embodying the injunctions ‘see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.’ Their names play on saru (monkey) and the negative suffix -zaru. Here, Toyomasa isolates Kikazaru, the ‘hear no evil’ monkey, transforming the familiar subject into an expressive character study. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a monkey by the same artist, signed Toyomasa, 3.2 cm wide, at Bonhams, Netsuke from the Collection of Joseph and Elena Kurstin, 16 December 2022, New York, lot 43 (sold for USD 10,200 or approx. EUR 10,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare also a closely related wood netsuke of a monkey by the same artist, signed Toyomasa, 3.9 cm high, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 54 (sold for EUR 20,800).