238 - Ɏ GYOKUSO: A VERY FINE SO SCHOOL INLAID WOOD AND IVORY KARAKURI (TRICK) NETSUKE

Ɏ GYOKUSO: A VERY FINE SO SCHOOL INLAID WOOD AND IVORY KARAKURI (TRICK) NETSUKE By Ouchi Gyokuso (Ouchi Jiemon, 1879-1944), signed Gyokuso 玉藻 Japan, Tokyo, first half of the 20 th century Superbly carved as a rat perched upon Daikoku’s mallet (uchide no kozuchi), the compact wooden form ingeniously constructed as a karakuri or trick netsuke. The rounded mallet is finely carved with subtle wood-grain lines and decorated with red and black lacquer, the ends modeled as stylized metal fittings. The rat is naturalistically rendered, its body and fur finely incised. The hammer opens to reveal an unexpected hidden scene: Daikoku seated and being served sake by a karako, finely carved from ivory, on a base made from several koban (coins), creating a delightful secondary composition concealed within the mallet. Signed in a green-stained reserve GYOKUSO. Himotoshi through the back. LENGTH 3.8 cm Condition: Excellent condition. Ouchi Gyokuso (1879–1944) was the father of Ouchi Sosui (1911–1966) and, together with Morita Soko (1879–1942), among the most important pupils of Miyazaki Joso (1835–1910), founder of the influential So school in Tokyo. “Jiemon” is recorded as Gyokuso’s given name in The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi (p. 225), translated by Raymond Bushell. Daikoku, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Shichifukujin), is among the most beloved figures in Japanese art and folklore. Of Indian origin as Mahakala and subsequently assimilated into Japanese Buddhist and popular traditions, he became particularly associated with wealth, prosperity, abundance, and the household, and was often depicted as a jovial, prosperous figure wearing his characteristic hood and carrying a large sack of treasures. His most recognizable attribute is the uchide no kozuchi, the “magic mallet” or “lucky hammer,” which was believed to produce whatever its wielder desired and consequently became an emblem of prosperity and good fortune. The rat (nezumi) is closely associated with Daikoku and frequently accompanies him in Japanese art. As creatures associated with grain stores and abundant food, rats could signify wealth, fertility, and plenty, while their prolific nature further reinforced these associations. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a rat atop Daikoku’s mallet by the same artist, signed Gyokuso, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981), Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 1, p. 431. Auction comparison: Compare a related So school wood netsuke with a similarly carved rat, by Morita Soko, 3 cm long, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 219 (sold for EUR 10,400 or approx. EUR 11,500 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Trade Certificate: In accordance with new EU regulations that went into effect in January 2022, we have applied for a certificate to sell this item within the EU. We expect the Austrian Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology to issue the certificate in 2-3 weeks. The item can only be shipped / handed over once the certificate has been issued. This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.