Japan Wood Wood netsuke depicting three blind men - signed Gyokurintei - 3.3 cm

Charming Japanese wooden netsuke depicting three blind men, signed Gyokurintei (玉林亭), Japan, Edo period, 19th century. This small sculpture stands out for a particularly dense and lively composition: three figures are gathered on an oval base, their bodies, legs and garments interlocking with remarkable economy of means. The faces are strongly individualized and the attitudes contrasted, giving the whole piece an unusual presence and expressiveness despite its dimensions of only 3.3 cm. The wood presents a beautiful dark brown tone, with warmer nuances and a marked polish on the protruding parts, evidence of ancient handling. The underside retains two himotoshi as well as a signature engraved Gyokurintei in a vertical reserve. The piece is documented in a 2021 specialized sale where it was already described as portraying three blind men, bearing the Gyokurintei signature. This old note also mentions a very small ancient chip at the base and a provenance from a French private collection. Works bearing the same Gyokurintei signature are documented in the Edo netsuke tradition; an example published by Zacke in 2024 is notably located in Edo (Tokyo), circa 1820. This rapprochement constitutes an interesting comparative element, without allowing automatic attribution of the present netsuke to the same hand. Provenance: former French private collection; acquired at public sale in Austria in 2021. Dimensions: 3.3 × 3 × 2.5 cm. Weight: 6.2 g. Very good overall condition for its age, with slight wear and small handling marks. Small discreet ancient chip at the base, already noted in earlier documentation. An expressive piece, offering both an original iconography, a beautiful patina of use and a historically documented signature. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sfctspvfm1vk9ggndo5u7/AAKjBQ5WFR8Tukui8vl0nsM?rlkey=pp3xfy9nzx21119t3mg4653xw&dl=0

Estimate:£678.59

View all items fromCatawikiorAncient Art