165 - TAMETAKA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A PUPPY WITH A BALL

TAMETAKA: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A PUPPY WITH A BALL By Tametaka, signed Tametaka 為隆 Japan, Nagoya, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji Art (Munich, 2004), p. 24, no. 69. Superbly carved and attractively stained as a plump, floppy-eared puppy seated in a tightly compacted pose, its haunches drawn close and one forepaw resting firmly upon a smooth ball. The charming animal raises its head with an alert and engaging expression, its broad muzzle carefully modeled with pierced nostrils and a slightly parted mouth. The fur is worked throughout in Tametaka’s characteristically vigorous manner, with deeply incised, sweeping strands accentuating the chest, flanks, and thick tail curled over the back. The deliberately rugged surface treatment lends the carving remarkable vitality and sculptural power while convincingly evoking the softness and movement of the animal’s coat. A rope collar encircles the neck and is tied in a neat knot at the back. The underside is pierced with two large asymmetrical himotoshi, the larger hole generously excavated, and bears the signature TAMETAKA within the characteristic raised oval reserve. LENGTH 4.1 cm Provenance: Galerie Gemini & Ichimonji Art, Munich, 2004. Piasa, Paris, 30 November 2005, lot 173. French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Excellent condition with old typical wear and light traces of use. Tametaka stands at the foundation of the Nagoya school of netsuke carving. The earliest recorded netsuke artist from the city and the only Nagoya carver named in the Soken Kisho of 1781, he is also credited with the invention of ukibori, the distinctive relief-carving technique closely associated with the school. His highly individual style—characterized by bold, compact forms, vigorously worked surfaces, and a rigorous understanding of netsuke as functional sculpture—profoundly shaped the development of carving in Nagoya. Particularly in his animal subjects, seemingly rough and spontaneous cuts coalesce into remarkably naturalistic and expressive forms, imbuing even the smallest creatures with weight, vitality, and commanding sculptural presence. The present puppy exemplifies these qualities, combining rustic vigor and acute observation with consummate functionality. Literature comparison Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a seated dog with a ball by the same artist, signed Tametaka, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 2, p. 1077. Auction comparison Compare a related dark wood netsuke of a dog by the same artist, signed Tametaka, 8.5 cm high, at Bonhams, The Julius & Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke: Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 117 (sold for GBP 9,375 or approx. EUR 15,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).