Help on an umimatsu netsuke

[Bernard]

Hello everybody,

This netsuke, 11.5 cm long, fetures two dessicated fishes. Umimatsu is very nice, but difficult to photograph.What do you think of the quality of this item ?

Can anyone translate the signature and give me some informations on the maker ?

Regards.

Bernard D

[Drago]

Sorry, can't help with the signature. BUT I think it is upside down.

 

But I have been wondering: I've seen dried fish as menuki as well... Why do they use this theme?

[Steve Waszak]

PM sent.

[b.hennick]

Hello

I did not see a hole that is a must have component of a netsuke. It might be an okimono rather than a netsuke. I do have some dried fish menuki.

[Bernard]

Sorry for the signature upside down.

Here is a new pic.

Bernard D

[k morita]

Hi,

I'm not close in Netsuke. But this Netsuke is great.

 

THe signature says "Hokkyo Sessai To"(carved by Hokkyo Sessai).法 橋 雪 齊 刀

"Hokkyo" means the third highest rank for Buddhist priests,but he was not a priest.

[Bugyotsuji]

How old does it look? There is a very similar 'Umimatsu two dried fish, apparently representing Iwashi (sardines)' by Sessai on p.724 of the Meinertzhagen Card Index of Netsuke in Archives of the British Museum. Ed. George Lazarnik. He warned back then that there were many fakes around.

[Bernard]

Many thanks for your very informative replies, gentlemen.

@Piers: apart from posting pics, I have no mean to show (or to know) if it looks old or not. If there is something else I can do to answer this question, please let me know.

Bernard D

[John A Stuart]

To answer Barry, I think lost in the thread, but, I believe there is a gap between the two fishes bodies that will allow the himo to be threaded. John

[Bernard]

I confirm John's observation.

Bernard D

[k morita]

Mr.Bernard D,

 

How about you try to post the pics also to International Netsuke Society Forums.

http://netsuke.websitetoolbox.com/

[Bernard]

Good suggestion, Mr. K Morita.

I'll try. Thank you for the link !

Bernard D

[Grey Doffin]

I'm curious what this is carved from. Looks a bit like fossilized mastadon ivory.

Grey

[Steve Waszak]

Umimatsu = "sea pine" = fossilized coral.

 

Cheers,

 

Steve

[Bugyotsuji]

They won't place a monetary value on it, Bernard, but some of them will give you their opinion on its merits. Umimatsu is fairly rare.

 

If you cannot get a hold of the MCI, someone there probably can show you a photo of the pages I quoted earlier. If not, then I will take some shots of the example, and of the written thoughts of Meinertzhagen regarding Sessai.

[Bernard]

Thank you, Piers !

I have just posted on this forum. Wait and see...

Bernard D

[k morita]

Congratulations Mr.Umimatsu.

[Bernard]

Damned, I have been unmasked !

Bernard D