AN EXCEPTIONAL LACQUER NETSUKE OF A KONOHA TENGU MASK WRAPPED IN A FUROSHIKI

AN EXCEPTIONAL LACQUER NETSUKE OF A KONOHA TENGU MASK WRAPPED IN A FUROSHIKI
Unsigned
Japan, 19th century
Finely modeled as a long-nosed tengu mask lacquered red with black and gold lacquer details, the back of the mask with ishime-nuri, the mask wrapped in a gold-lacquered furoshiki decorated with gold sprinkles and very fine takamaki-e maple leaves, the cloth tied in a meticulously executed bow below the nose, the back with good asymmetrical himotoshi, the larger of which is of oval shape.
LENGTH 4.4 cm
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear.
Provenance:
Ex-collection Edward Wrangham. Ex-collection Edward Wrangham. Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part I, 9 November 2010, London, lot 178 (
sold for 4,200 GBP
). A Princely Collection, acquired from the above.
Literature comparison:
Compare a related, yet less fine lacquer netsuke depicting a Konoha Tengu mask wrapped in a furoshiki by Kokuzan, dated 18th century, illustrated in Davey, Neil K. / Tripp, Susan G. (1993) The Garrett Collection, p. 285, no. 402.