Wood Netsuke Sumo Wrestlers

ANTIQUE JAPANESE NETSUKE

A powerful rendition of two sumo wrestlers locked together in the 'Kawazu Throw"
The carving clearly portraying the grimacing features of both wrestlers in their struggle.

Formerly the property of a Japanese collector.

Please refer to the images for details as they also form the description.

Depending on your computer monitor / phone / etc colour may vary to actual

Condition: Excellent. Aged patina.


Unsigned:
Himotoshi: Reverse.

Height: 7.6 cm
Weight : 29 gm
Length: 4.7 cm
Depth: 3.5cm

Condition: Very good.

A$1100

This unsigned netsuke is the school / style of Itsumin.
Itsumin originally from Nagoya moved to Tokyo in the mid 1800s, he showed himself to be a master of detail and expression.
Many of his works were okimono style as is this particular netsuke

Similar
A nearly identical example of this netsuke signed Itsumin is to be seen in the Meinertzhagen Card Index of Netsuke in the Archives of The British Museum Part A. Page 246.

Similar in wood Zacke Austria 9 May 2025 Lot 194 : Sold Euros 4160

The kawazu gaku technique was named after the renowned wrestler Kawazu no Saburo Sukeyasu. When his opponent, Matano Goro Kunihisa (Kagehisa), attempted to lift him by the loincloth, Sukeyasu countered by entangling his leg and bringing him down. In this netsuke, the wrestler in the back appears poised for victory, but the leg entanglement is already in motion—within moments, he will be lying on the ground, defeated.

Literature comparison:
For a closely related wood netsuke of two sumo wrestlers, by Ittan, see Eskenazi (1973) Japanese Netsuke formerly in the Collection of Dr Robert L Greene, p. 18, no. 31. For a closely related wood netsuke depicting two wrestlers, by Ittan, mid-19th century, see The International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ), vol.12, no. 3, p. 28.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related wood netsuke of two sumo wrestlers, by Hokyudo Itsumin, 19th century, 6.5 cm, at Christie’s, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, London, lot 54 (sold for GBP 32,450).