MINKO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A CICADA ON PINECONE

MINKO: A RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A CICADA ON PINECONE
By Konan Minko, signed Minko 眠虎
Japan, Tsu, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
Naturalistically carved as a cicada (semi) perched on top of a pinecone, the details finely carved and the insect's glaring eyes inlaid in pale horn. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina. Large himotoshi through the pinecone. Signed underneath the wings MINKO.
LENGTH 4 cm
Condition: Good condition with minor associated surface wear. Some tiny nicks here and there, one wing of the cicada with a smoothed-down chip to the edge of the wing.
Provenance: European collection.
Cicada netsuke by Minko and his followers are to be considered extremely rare. Furthermore, the subject of a cicada on a pinecone is also unusual, Fuld's Netsuke and Ojime Index only lists one netsuke of this subject (see literature comparison).
Literature comparison:
For a related wood netsuke of a cicada on pinecone see Hurtig, Bernard (1973) Masterpieces of Netsuke Art: One Thousand Favorites of Leading Collectors, no. 126.
Auction comparison:
For a related wood netsuke of a cicada pupa on a gourd, by Minko, see Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 14 May 2015, London, lot 41 (
sold for 3,125 GBP
).