199 - KOKEI: A CHARMING AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HORSE WITH ITS FOAL

KOKEI: A CHARMING AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HORSE WITH ITS FOAL By Kokei, signed Kokei 虎溪 Japan, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a recumbent mare and her foal, the young clambering affectionately over its mother’s back while she turns her head toward it, the two animals intimately entwined to form a compact composition. The mare’s legs are tucked neatly beneath the body, her long mane and coat finely incised, contrasting with the more sparingly worked and highly polished surface of the foal. The mare’s long tail sweeps around the underside in a broad, flowing curve, visually binding the group and lending the otherwise compact composition a pleasing sense of movement. Natural himotoshi and signed to the underside KOKEI within a polished reserve. LENGTH 3.5 cm Provenance: Kunsthandel Klefisch, Cologne, 16 June 2007, lot 194. French private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Very good condition, minor expected wear, a tiny near-invisible touchup to the tip of the right ear. Kokei is best known for his finely carved netsuke of zodiac animals, including horses, which he typically depicted as solitary figures. The present example is an especially rare variant, combining the artist’s characteristic naturalism with an unusually intimate portrayal of the bond between mare and foal. The addition of the young animal transforms the traditional horse motif into a charming study of companionship, rarely encountered among Kokei’s works. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a reclining mare with foal by the same artist, signed Kokei, 3.5 cm long, illustrated in Barry Davies Oriental Art, The Netsuke Collection of W. G. Bosshard Part 1, no. 39. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a horse with its young by the same artist, signed Kokei, 3.4 cm long, see Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, lot 111 (sold for EUR 5,065).