The Trudy and John Neville Cohen Collection

JAPANESE ZODIAC NETSUKE

With the full descriptions

To Find the Original Large Photographs
 Note the identity (letter and number) found in the description


N1 - N24

Okimono of The Zodiac Animals

Toshiaki Ivory Okimono

M1

An ivory Okimono carving of a group of the twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac (junishi).

Japanese, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Signed: Toshiaki.
Provenance: L. Smith.
Published: Item 170 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Ivory Zodiac Netsuke

A group of the twelve zodiac animals in ivory.

Wood Zodiac Netsuke

A group of the twelve zodiac animals in wood.

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N1

A fine ivory netsuke of a rat on a clam shell of early period and fine patination.

Japan, late 18th century.
Signed: Unsigned, Kyoto school
Provenance: Dr. Bamji Collection.
Published: Item 84 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Tomokazu wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N2

A wood netsuke of a rat clasping a chestnut.

Japan, 19th century.
Signed: Tomokazu, Gifu
Provenance: T. L. Elliot. Tomkinson Collection
Published: Item 221 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

A fine and typical work by Kano Tomokazu, who worked in Gifu during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Tomotada school ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N3

An ivory netsuke of a reclining bullock with a child at its side, the ivory slightly worn and of a good colour.

Japan, late 18th century
Signed: Tomotada, Kyoto
Provenance: Dr. Bamji Collection
Published: Item 90 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

A good example of the work produced in Kyoto during the late 18th century. The signature, however, is not that of Tomotada, but that of a close pupil.

Itto wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N4

A rare ebony netsuke of a reclining cow.

Japan, late 18th century
Signed: Itto
Provenance: D. Frances
Published: Item 211 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Unsigned whale tooth ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N5

A tooth (probably sperm whale) ivory netsuke of an ape clinging to a bamboo shoot.

Japan, 18th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: George A. Cohen.

Miwa wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N6

A wood netsuke of an ape holding a radish.

Japan, 18th century
Signed: Miwa, Edo
Provenance: Glendening
Published: Item 298 (netsuke) 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Otoman ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N7

A fine and very rare ivory netsuke of a cockerel and hen in a corn scoop. Excellent carving of an attractive and unusual model.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Otoman, Hakata
Provenance: George A. Cohen
Published: Item 114 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Otoman is an artist whose work is rarely seen. His output mainly is of rather naturalistic tigers and of legendary figures. The present example, therefore is extremely rare.

Unsigned wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N8

A fine wood netsuke of a cockerel, preening itself on a drum, the underside of which is finely engraved with a dragon.

Japan, mid. 19th century
Signed: Unsigned, Nagoya
Provenance: Sidney Moss
Published: Item 267 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

This netsuke having two zodiac signs was probably made for a marriage.

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N9

An ivory netsuke of a reclining dog resting on a besom. The broom softly etched while the dog is of smooth almost porcelain texture.

Japan, 18th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: Bluth Collection, Sidney Moss
Published: Item 83 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Ittan wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N10

A wood netsuke of a puppy, scratching an ear, as it sits on a dried fish head. A string attached to the fish is held firmly in the dog's mouth.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Ittan, Nagoya
Provenance: Sidney Moss
Published: Item 247 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Ittan was a member of the school of Ikkan (see N16). He lived in Nagoya and died in 1877

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N11

An ivory netsuke of a boar resting on a bed of leaves.

Japan, 18th century.
Signed: Unsigned, Kyoto
Provenance: D. Frances
Published: Item 113 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Masatomo wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N12

A very fine small wood netsuke of a boar lying looking up, and slightly to the right, the legs folded beneath, the hair work is nicely worn. The cord attachment under the right hind leg.

Japan, 19th century.
Signed: Masatomo, Nagoya
Provenance: Sotheby's
Published: Item 241 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.
Illustrated in 'The Wonderful World of Netsuke' by Raymond Bushell.

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N13

A powerful early carving ivory netsuke of a tiger eating a bamboo shoot.

Japan, late 18th century.
Signed: Unsigned, Kyoto
Provenance: Sidney Moss
Published: Item 23 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Unsigned wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N14

A wood early netsuke of a tiger with its tail curling round one ear.

Japan, 18th century.
Signed: Unsigned, Kyoto
Provenance: J. L. Khan

Rantei ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N15

An ivory netsuke of a reclining hare sleeping on leaves.

Japan, late 18th century.
Inscribed: Rantei, Kyoto
Provenance: George A. Cohen.

Ikkan wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N16

A fine wood netsuke of a seated hare with one forepaw raised. The hair work boldly etched and the eyes inlaid in amber.

Japan, Circa 1890
Signed in sosho, Ikkan, Nagoya
Provenance: Sidney Moss
Published: Item 244 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Ikkan (1817-1893) worked in Nagoya and the style of signature is that used in his later years.

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N17

An ivory netsuke of a fierce dragon curled around a lotus leaf.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: D. Frances
Published: Item 96 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Tomokazu wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N18

A fine wood netsuke of a dragon coiled around a tama (the sacred pearl of knowledge).

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Tomokazu, Gifu
Provenance: Sotheby's
Published: Item 227 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

A fine and typical work by Kano Tomokazu, who worked in Gifu during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Tomochika ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N19

An ivory netsuke of a coiled snake.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Tomochika, Edo
Provenance: George A. Cohen.

Chikuyosai Tomochika is best known for his figural netsuke, produced in Edo, during the middle part of the nineteenth century.

Sukeyuki wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N20

A fine wood netsuke of a well carved coiled snake.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Sukeyuki, Takayama
Provenance: Jackson
Published: Item 181 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Unsigned ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N21

A fine ivory netsuke of Chokwaro's horse standing on a double gourd from which it has emerged.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Unsigned
Provenance: D. Frances
Published: Item 139 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Yasutada wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N22

A wood netsuke of a reclining horse with head raised.

Japan, 19th century
Signed: Yasutada
Provenance: Sidney Moss
Published: Item 207 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

Signed in an oblong panel Yasutada, a rare early artist from Echigo.

Tomotada school ivory netsuke

Zodiac collection

N23

An ivory netsuke of a reclining goat with fleecy hair.

Japan, late 18th century
Signed: Tomotada, Kyoto
Provenance: Bluth Collection, Sidney Moss
Published: Item 47 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

A good example of the work produced in Kyoto during the late 18th century. The signature, however, is not that of Tomotada, but that of a close pupil.

Unsigned wood netsuke

Zodiac collection

N24

An early wood netsuke of a reclining goat licking its coat.

Japan, 18th century
Signed: Unsigned, probably Nagoya
Provenance: T. L. Elliot
Published: Item 189 'In Search of Netsuke and Inro' by George A. Cohen.

This netsuke, although unsigned, is probably the work of Tametaka.