157 - † HIDARI TOYOMASA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX

† HIDARI TOYOMASA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX By Hidari Toyomasa (Toyoyo,1811-1883), signed Toyomasa 豊昌 Japan, Sasayama, Tanba province, mid-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Superbly carved and attractively stained, the powerful ox reclining with its legs drawn tightly beneath its massive body, the head raised and turned sharply back over the flank. The animal bears a gentle, almost smiling expression, with drilled nostrils and large eyes inlaid in dark horn, framed by elegantly flared ears. The magnificent ridged horns curl tightly around a densely incised forelock, contrasting beautifully with the broad, smoothly polished surfaces of the body. The long tail sweeps forward in a broad loop against the hindquarters, its strands finely incised. The warm reddish-brown wood is attractively polished, with darker staining gathering in the recesses and carved details. Himotoshi underneath and signed to the haunch TOYOMASA. LENGTH 4.6 cm Condition: The left horn is restored. Otherwise very good condition with only minor wear. Presenting beautifully. Hidari Toyomasa (1811-1883), also known as Toyoyo or Toyomasa II, was the son and accomplished pupil of the celebrated Tanba master Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856). The name Hidari Toyomasa - literally ‘left-handed Toyomasa’ - distinguished him from his father, whose artistic name he inherited and continued to use. Contemporary inscriptions record father and son together as Toyomasa and Hidari Toyomasa, while a number of works bearing simply the Toyomasa signature are now recognized as carvings by the younger master, as with the present work. Recumbent oxen were among the most successful models of this immediate circle, and the present netsuke, with its massive rounded volumes, tightly curled horns, expressive face, and characteristic polished surfaces, corresponds closely with examples securely attributed to Hidari Toyomasa. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related netsuke of a resting ox by the same artist Toyomasa II, 5.4 cm long, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, accession no. M.87.263.100. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of an ox by the same artist, signed Toyomasa, 4.5 cm long, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 6 November 2012, London, lot 146 (sold for GBP 21,250 or approx. EUR 37,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.