By Kogyoku, signed Kogyoku 光玉 with kakihan
Japan, Edo (Tokyo), mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Published: Eskenazi Ltd. (1998) Japanese Netsuke, Ojime and Inro from a Private European Collection, pp. 54-55, no. 51.

The ivory superbly polished and lightly stained. Okame is depicted with black hair neatly parted in the middle and gently smiling, the inside of the mouth and lips colored in red. Signature KOGYOKU (follower of Hojitsu) with red kakihan on the himotoshi bar in the back.

HEIGHT 4.2 cm

Condition: Very good condition, minor wear.
Provenance: Ex-collection Emil Verenemann, then European collection P. Jacquesson, purchased from at Sotheby’s, May 2007, London, lot 784.

Auction comparison:
A similar ivory netsuke by Hogyoku was sold at Lempertz, Netsuke from the Albert Brockhaus Collection, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot 576 (sold for 1,250 EUR).

This item contains or is made from elephant ivory 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. Please note that in compliance with EU regulation effective January 19th, 2022, all items carved from elephant ivory before 1947 must carry a legal trade permit issued by the Austrian ministry of trade, or any other appropriate authority within the European Union. For this reason, any sale of such item can only be concluded after such permit has been granted. All payments made prior to the issuance of the respective permit will be held in escrow until the application for the permit has been approved. Please note that according to EU regulation it may take up to 3 months until the permit has been granted. In case the permit is declined, or not granted after 3 months, the payment will be returned to the client immediately.