Volume 40 No. 2 Summer 2020 International Netsuke Society Journal Boxwood netsuke by Shunko of Ise Length: 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) Japan, mid-19th century (late Edo period) Pet project... This intriguing netsuke features a cicada resting on naturalistically carved with each leg grasping the lid, a woven straw object. One delightfully discovers it and the eyes are polished for contrast and vibrancy. to be the lid to a bug box, reminiscent of childhood. The straw lid artfully simulates years of loving use. The cover for a container of a pet insect provides a perfect compact form for a netsuke. These creatures The netsuke-shi Shunko hailed from the city of Tsu in thrilled young children who kept a favorite specimen. the province of Ise. He likely was mentored by Tanaka Perhaps the artist Shunko found pleasure in such a pet. Minko, also from Tsu, with whom he shares the kanji “ko” in his name. Shunko enjoyed elaborating this Semi (cicadas) are among the most important of theme, as Meinertzhagen notes that he also carved the mushi (insect) world, their songs suggesting late the subject of a snail on a woven straw object. summertime. An ancient symbol of transformation, they represent poignant notions of Buddhist Please contact Orientations Gallery for pet projects reincarnation and cycles of life. Even, as in The Tale by the finest artists of ojime, netsuke, inro, and much of Genji, evoking an evasive lover. The netsuke is more. Tel: 212.772-7705 NEW YORK CITY By appointment www.orientationsgallery.com e-mail: [email protected] Member of Art and Antique Dealers League of America, Inc. * CINOA International Netsuke Society International www.netsuke.org Netsuke Society INQUIRIES AND PAYMENTS Journal P.O. Box 223218 Hollywood, FL 33022 USA Volume 40, Number 2 PRESIDENT Marsha Vargas Handley Summer 2020 2164 Hyde St., #509 San Francisco, CA 94109 Tel: (415) 307-7292 Email: [email protected] Contents EDITOR 2 President’s Letter Linda Meredith 6 Zooming through the Pandemic Cell: (360)734-7319 E-mail: [email protected] Robert Willford 10 A Japanese Pipecase, Tadamasa Hayashi, MEMBERSHIPS Art Nouveau, and Impressionism: Aisha Buntin E-mail: [email protected] A Lesson in Art History Milton Stratos BOARD OF DIRECTORS Marsha Vargas Handley, President 16 Inro Tokei Rosemary Bandini David Butsumyo Jean-Yves Boutaudou Alan Fisher, M.D. 22 On the Continent John D. Hawley Max Rutherston Adrian Heindrichs 29 Some Inrō Allegedly Acquired in Japan in 1854 Jay E. Hopkins, M.D. Makiko Komada by the Captain of One of Commodore Perry’s Guy de Lasteyrie Black Ships Richard Lutton Else and Heinz Kress Gopi Nayar, M.D. Susan Romaine 49 In Memoriam -------- 51 Membership Form Joseph Kurstin, M. D., Emeritus 52 Back Issues 52 Index of Advertisers Lost or damaged Journal? Contact MEMBERSHIPS Cover: (see above). Pipecase ensemble, featuring two frogs arm wrestling on the lid of the tonkotsu, Unsigned. Collection of Milton Stratos. (See page 14) B-1 PAST PRESIDENTS President’s Letter David S. White, 2015-2017 Marsha Vargas Handley, 2009-2015 Joseph Kurstin, M.D. 2005-2009 As most of the world is currently reopening from the COVID-19 John D. Hawley, 1999-2005 pandemic, I hope all of you have remained healthy and are Jay E. Hopkins, M. D., 1993-1999 looking forward to returning to your normal lifestyle. Virginia G. Atchley, 1991-1993 Robert O. Kinsey, 1987-1991 As I wrote in the last Journal, we were investigating various James Hume, 1981-1987 hotels for our 2021 INS Convention in Amsterdam. I am very Victor E. Israel, 1979-1981 Sharen T. Chappell, 1977-1979 pleased to announce that our convention will be held at the George D. Colom, M. D., Amsterdam Marriott Hotel from Thursday, September 30, Acting President, 1977 2021, to Monday, October 4, 2021. Dr. Henk Hoogsteden Harold L. Meyers, 1975-1976 researched, and after visiting several hotels recommended that Copyright © 2020 the Amsterdam Marriott had the facilities we need and was International Netsuke Society willing to give us a good price for the meeting rooms and hotel ISSN 073-8087 The International Netsuke Society rooms. All the meetings and the dealer exhibitions will be held on is a non-profit organization. The the ground floor. The hotel has a total of 368 rooms and twenty- purpose of the Society, as stated by its By-Laws, is the study of netsuke and eight suites, and our rate will be €249/single and €269/double for their related appurtenances, the artists a deluxe room, which will include VAT, breakfast, and internet who created them, and the society access. I want to thank Henk for all his work in finding the hotel from which they evolved. Such study is accomplished through conventions, for our next convention. exhibits, lectures, workshops, and the With many areas being under sheltering-at-home orders dissemination of written materials, since March, most of the auctions and meetings of local photographs, and the International Netsuke Society Journal, published netsuke chapters had to be cancelled. During this time some four times a year. of our members discussed getting together via the internet. Robert Willford decided he would organize a Zoom meeting The opinions expressed by the contributors and advertisers in this in April, and arranged for a netsuke quiz and a talk on reading publication are theirs alone and signatures. At the time he thought he might get ten people who do not necessarily represent the Officers, Board of Directors, the would participate. I recall there were about thirty people who Editorial Board, or the Editor of the participated in that first meeting, and the following four biweekly International Netsuke Society meetings have attracted up to forty-five people. It is amazing and its Journal. __________ to me how it is possible to have people from around the world all connecting to listen and watch a “live” presentation where Copy editor: Patricia J. McConnell we can see everyone and ask questions just as if we were in the Produced by CA Design same room. The meetings started at 6:00 p.m. London time and, 14/F, China Hong Kong Tower moving west, we had people from New York, California, New 8-12 Hennessy Road Wanchai Zealand, Japan, China, France, and Netherlands, to name some Hong Kong of the countries represented. Tel: (852) 2865 6787 Linda Meredith, our editor, is always looking for articles for Fax: (852) 2866 3429 http://www.cadesign.hk the Journal, so if any of you are willing to write, please contact her. PRINTED IN HONG KONG I also hope that you mark your calendars to attend our 2021 Convention. We will be making additional announcements over the next year as the programs and events are finalized. Wishing all of you a healthy summer. • Marsha Vargas Handley [email protected] 2 INTERNATIONAL NETSUKE SOCIETY JOURNAL Volume 40, Number 2 A-2 A wood standing figure netsuke of Tekkai Sennin, depicted as a lame old man with a toad on his shoulder. This netsuke was probably carved by Shugetsu III. 19th century. Signed: Shugetsu. Height: 2¼ inches (3.8 cm). P.O. Box 324, Pompton Lakes, New Jersey 07442 Tel/Fax: (201) 600-7197 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.takaraasianart.com B-3 UPCOMING AUCTION THE GHOST OF FINE NETSUKE & SAGEMONO SEPTEMBER 2020 with over 200 fine netsuke and NAITO TOYOMASA including a selection of 20 exceptional mask netsuke from the European collection P. Jacquesson. Self-Portrait of Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856), the reverse carved to reveal a ‘negative mask’ of a ghostly spirit. Signed Toyomasa at the age of 82, one year before his death. B-4 UPCOMING AUCTION FINE NETSUKE & SAGEMONO SEPTEMBER 2020 with over 200 fine netsuke and including a selection of 20 exceptional mask netsuke from the European collection P. Jacquesson. Mask of Tsuchigomo Mask of a Monkey Mask of a Feline Creature Ex Collection Dr. E. Franckel Ex Collection Veranneman Ex Collection Bushell Attributed to Sansho Attributed to Sansho Signed with the kakihan of Sansho FREE CATALOGUE: [email protected] GALERIE ZACKE - 1070 VIENNA AUSTRIA - MARIAHILFERSTRASSE 112 Tel +43 1 532 04 52 Fax +20 E-mail [email protected] www.zacke.at B-5 EUROPE Rosemary Bandini, Chairman PO Box 2281 Woodford Green IG7 5YP Tel: +44 7968 182292 [email protected] Zooming through the LOS ANGELES Susan Romaine Cell: (310) 231-9449 Pandemic [email protected] MELBOURNE Robert Willford Eva Sweet, Chairman [email protected] 17 Tara Ave., Kew 3101 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Tel/Fax: 61.3.9853.9786 sjeremy@ bigpond.net.au MOSCOW It’s very easy to take for granted the friendships and generous Commonwealth of hospitality that goes hand in hand with collecting netsuke; just the Independent States 1st Dubrovskaya St, 13A, Build. 1 mention that you will be in their country brings with it offers of a Moscow, 109044, Russia Tel: 79 16 65 64 167 bed for the night and the invitation to handle their collection. But 38 06 39 71 5505 as the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns were imposed, all that was NEW ENGLAND taken from us. The “new normal” is Zoom yoga, Zoom quizzes, Ed McNiff, Chairman 108 Central St. Zoom cocktail evenings — basically, Zoom everything. So, Byfield, MA 01922 Tel: (978) 462-5181 I thought, “Why not a netsuke Zoom?” [email protected] The idea was to hold a regular chapter meeting virtually, to NEW YORK Jeffrey Klotz, Chairman enable us to stay connected. During the lockdown we have held P.O. Box 324 a meeting every other Saturday. We start with a quiz and move Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 Tel: (973) 616-2988 on to a lecture, then end with a show and tell.