A fine ivory netsuke of a wild dog. First half 19th century
The skinny animal with ferocious looking head turned to the right holds a deer's leg in his mouth, the details all carefully carved, including the teeth. Signed Rantei in an oval reserve. The eye pupils of dark brown horn.
Height 2.6 cm
Rantei is known for his depictions of rabbits and dogs, usually being cuddly puppies playing with a sandal, an awabi or with each other. In the present netsuke, however, we see a lean canid holding its prey - a severed leg of venison - in its mouth. Emaciated, the ribs and spine clearly visible under the fur, its ferocity is expressed by the piercing gaze.
Anatomically not clearly identifiable, the sharp molars, broad mouth and thick tail, which are untypical for dogs, make one think much more of a wolf (Jap. ôkami 狼). Another interpretation of the present canid would be the "mountain dog" (yamainu 山犬), the dog that lives in the Japanese wilderness.
Comparable pieces are few. A Rantei signed rather "dog-like" looking wolf with long fangs is housed in the Baur Collection in Geneva, whose greed for prey is expressed in its tense posture. A netsuke by Rantei showing the fight between a wolf and a deer is published by Alain Ducros (Netsuke & Sagemono, 1987, Abb. 35 u. 36). A stylistically comparable piece made of wood but without a haunch was sold at Lempertz (auction 680, lot 843) in June 1992.
Certificate
Sales permit for the EU internal market available
Provenance
Private collection, Düsseldorf
Literature
Cf. a wolf signed by Rantei in: Coullery, Newstead, The Baur Collection, Geneva 1977, p. 330, catalogue no. C 1057
Cf. a netsuke of a wolf attacking a deer in: Alain Ducros, Netsuke & Sagemono, Granges-Les-Valence, 1987, p. 55 ill. 35f.