Antique Japanese Shibiyama Ivory Netsuke
Jeweled Elephant
Coral, Horn and Pearl Inlays
Netsuke Signature: Masaharu, late 18th Century
Masaharu is listed in: Netsuke by Neil K. Davey Pub. Sotheby 1982
Netsuke: 112 Masterpieces: The Trumpf Collection Linden-Museum
Arnoldsche 2000 Netsuke A Guide for Collectors
Mary Louise O’Brien Pub. Tuttle, Tokyo 1965
h. 1.75 in.(4.5cm), w. 2 in.(5cm), d. 1.25 in.(3cm)
Condition: cracklines

Masaharu is a well listed carver dating to the 18th-19th Century, known for his works in wood and ivory; a versatile master whose subjects included gods, human figures, animals and snakes. Finely carved and extravagantly decorated, an nearly identical Masaharu elephant is also in the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in British Columbia.

Sold to Private Collection

The impressive sacred white elephant is majestically caparisoned, with headstall inlaid with pearls and strands of hanging jewels which are repeated on the sides and back with tiny precious inlays of white, gold, black and turquoise stones. Side panels are adorned with floral and foliate motifs, the saddle cloth engraved with an exquisitely carved crane and cloud motif, the crane portrayed with wings outspread, feathers marked with close parallel lines and the bird’s eye made of inlaid black coral. At the bottom of the side panels are depicted a pleated fabric made from the corrugated edge of a dark shell. A rare and beautifully preserved ivory, cream in color with a sumptuous patina of age.