Caption

Netsuke in the shape of a twig with biwa loquat fruits, Gyokuhôsai Ryûchin, fl. ca. 1850–1870. Ivory, engraving; 2.0 × 4.2 × 2.8 cm. Signed Gyokuhosai. Second half of 19th century ca. 1850–1860, Kaei 5–Ansei 7, Japan. Miniature carved netsuke katabori in the form of a biwa branch, rendered faithfully to the plant so the fruit is readily identifiable. In three fruits the artist carved microscopic landscapes, identified by inscriptions as Shinobazu Pond, the Tama River, and the plateau Sengenyama. Gyokuhôsai is the signature used by Yamada Bunjiro, active in Edo in the second half of the 19th century. Height 2.0 cm; width 4.2 cm; depth 2.8 cm., A small carved object sits on a flat surface against a plain background, showing a smooth yellowed ivory tone with darker brown shading in crevices and along carved lines, and small areas of darker brown spotting; the carving forms rounded bulbous shapes connected by an openwork organic lattice and includes stylized leaf forms with incised veining, a rounded element with a star-like incision, and a curved protrusion with dotted texture; the background is a muted gray and the surface beneath the object is a slightly lighter gray, with soft shadows beneath and to the right of the object.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A21_455

License type

Rights managed

Available size

71.0Mb (663.6Kb) / 20.0in x 13.8in / 6000 x 4134 (300dpi)

Keywords

Netsuke shape twig biwa loquat fruits Gyokuhôsai Ryûchin fl ca 1850–1870 Ivory engraving Signed Gyokuhosai Second half 19th century ca 1850–1860 Kaei 5–Ansei 7 Japan Miniature carved netsuke katabori form biwa branch rendered faithfully plant fruit readily identifiable three fruits artist microscopic landscapes identified inscriptions Shinobazu Pond Tama River plateau Sengenyama Gyokuhôsai signature Yamada Bunjiro active Edo second half 19th century Height 2.0 cm width 4.2 cm depth 2.8 cm small object sits flat surface plain background showing smooth yellowed ivory tone darker brown shading crevices carved lines small areas darker brown spotting carving forms rounded bulbous shapes connected openwork organic lattice includes stylized leaf forms incised veining rounded element star- incision curved protrusion dotted texture background muted gray surface beneath object slightly lighter gray soft shadows beneath right object.