244 AN EXCELLENT NETSUKE OF A HATCHING TENGU BY MUNECHIKA AFTER HARA SHUMIN By Munechika after Hara Shumin, wood netsuke with inlay Japan, Edo, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A wood netsuke of a hatching tengu known as tengu no tomago. A well-detailed and incredibly fine carving – the tengu’s head emerges from the shell with finely incised hair and wearing a Yamabushi cap. The tengu has a wild expression and grasps the edge of the shell with one hand, while the other is visible on the underside. The feathery wing carved with extraordinary detail is visible inside the egg, while the other wing perforates the underside of the shell. One himotoshi ringed in greenstained ivory with the other as a pierced aperture in the form of a pine, next to a maple leaf and foliage. The wood of a very appealing color with a beautiful grain. Signed MUNECHIKA with kao. Jonas mentions a 19th century wood carver who signed Munechika, who must have been a close student of Hara Shumin, since the design is almost exactly the same as the one by Shumin and also the manner of signature and use of kao is quite similar. LENGTH 4 CM Condition: Excellent condition Provenance: British private collection with two valuations from Sotheby’s, by Neil K. Davey, dated 1974 & 1984, inventory no. 176 Auction comparison: For an almost identical example by Hara Shumin see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, London, 17 May 2018, lot 7. Estimate EUR 3.000,Starting price EUR 1.500,-
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