Two stag-antler netsuke of a monkey and a fish


By Jack Coutu (1924-2017), English, the first carved June 1993, the second carved August 1994The first a monkey seated on its haunches, one arm extending out, with clenched fist for holding the inro cord, the eyes inlaid in horn, signed on an inlaid silver tablet JC; the second a coelacanth shown swimming, its mouth open and its tail thrashing in the water, one fin forming the himotoshi, the eyes inlaid in mother-of-pearl, signed on a silver tablet JC. The monkey: 8cm (3 1/8in) long; the fish: 8.4cm (3¼in) long. (4).
|PublishedNetsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, vol.15, no.4, p.39, no.38.Sold together with Jack Coutu's reference cards, the first (no.228) stating: 'Like the last one, this is also an eccentric shape designed within the limitations of the material. I find I am more and more attracted to the abstract quality of the form rather than merely allowing the subject to dictate it. It does not always result in a compact netsuke but the result is more satisfactory to me! The cord can be passed through both hands if necessary so it can hang at different angles.'The second (no.241) stating: 'This was a straightforward carving of the "ancient fish!" The deerhorn seemed a suitable material for the task and is a good material to work if you can avoid the problems of the soft core. It has a good "tactile" quality and I was quite pleased with the result. I thought I was using pearls for the eyes, but when polished the surface reveals M.O.P. [mother-of-pearl] instead! However they work quite nicely even if they are rather prominent. It helps the rather "old brutish character".'