TOMOCHIKA: AN IVORY NETSUKE OF AN EAGLE SNATCHING A FOX

TOMOCHIKA: AN IVORY NETSUKE OF AN EAGLE SNATCHING A FOX
By a member of the Tomochika school, signed Tomochika 友親
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
A finely carved and stained ivory netsuke of an eagle firmly grasping a helpless fox in its talons. The reverent bird of prey has a fierce expression, its head is slightly tilted downwards, and its beak is opened. The feather-work of the eagle is executed with great precision. Natural himotoshi and the signature in a wavy reserve on the underside of the fox TOMOCHIKA.
HEIGHT 3.7 cm
Condition: Very good condition, minor wear.
Provenance:
Collection Gabor Orszagh, Budapest, Hungary.
Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 29.100.796 (together with an inro).
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related ivory netsuke by Tomochika at Bonhams, The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art Part IV, 6 November 2013, London, lot 61 (
sold for 1,625 GBP
), and another by Shokyusai at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 228 (
sold for 2,275 EUR
).
Trade Certificate:
The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number AT 22-B-0470).
This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.