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A rare boxwood netsuke of a mermaid and young By Kokei, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century image 1
A rare boxwood netsuke of a mermaid and young By Kokei, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century image 2
A rare boxwood netsuke of a mermaid and young By Kokei, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century image 3
Lot 65*

A rare boxwood netsuke of a mermaid and young
By Kokei, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century

The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art
8 November 2011, 10:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £6,875 inc. premium

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A rare boxwood netsuke of a mermaid and young

By Kokei, Kuwana, Ise province, early 19th century
The girl-fish leaning back and smiling as she holds her baby to her breast, her tail curled around to protect the child, the wood is slightly worn and bears a good patina, signed in an oval reserve Kokei. 4.8cm (1 7/8in).

Footnotes

木彫根付　親子人魚　銘「虎渓」　19世紀前期

For a very similar example by Kokei see The Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, a Legacy at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 2003, no.219.

Compare the almost identical example signed Minko, lot 68.

Kokei has been recorded for many years as a student of Tanaka Minko of Tsu in Ise province and a number of netsuke by both makers are known which bear striking similarities. However, as stated by Nori Watanabe in The International Netsuke Society Journal, vo.21, no.1, Spring 2011, p.46, he actually studied in Kameyama before moving to Kuwana, also in Ise province.

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A STONEWARE FIGURE OF AN ONI SUPPORTING A CLOUD Japan, Edo period,
A PAIR OF MIYAO BRONZE FIGURES Japan, By the Miyao workshop, Meiji period, late 19th century,
THREE BAMBOO FLOWER BASKETS Taisho (1912-1926) or Showa (1926-1989) era, 20th century
OKAMOTO RYŌZAN FOR THE YASUDA COMPANY A Small Ceramic Vase and Cover Meiji era (1868-1912), circa 1900
A GROUP OF FOUR JAPANESE BRONZES Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century,
An Arita blue and white porcelain plate, Kanbun (1663–1673) or Enpô Era (1673 - 1681)
Ryoun: A SET OF SIX HIRADO PORCELAIN DISHES
A rare Arita rectangular sander, circa 1680-1700
A SMALL LACQUER FAN-SHAPED KŌBAKO (INCENSE CONTAINER) Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century,
A BOXWOOD OKIMONO OF TWO MONKEYS HANGING FROM A BRANCH Japan, 20th century,
A RECTANGULAR MIXED-METAL INLAID BOX WITH TIGER MOTIF Japan, 20th century,
A POLYCHROME WOOD CARVING OF RANRYO-O, THE PRINCE OF LANLING Japan, 19th century
A BRONZE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT LION Japan, Meiji period, late 19th century,
TWO ZUSHI (PORTABLE SHRINES) Edo period (1615-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century,
A LARGE STONEWARE PLATTER Bizen Ware Showa (1926-1989) or Heisei (1989-2019) era, 20th/21st century
A NEGORO LACQUER CUP STAND AND A TEABOWL STAND Japan, Muromachi and Momoyama period,
ELEVEN KISERUZUTSU PIPE CASES Japan, 19th century,
EIGHT INRO Japan, 19th - 20th century,
SEVEN CERAMIC VESSELS AND A FIGURE Japan,
A WOOD BOKUTO IN THE FORM OF A COILED DRAGON Japan, Meiji period, 19th/20th century,
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