Hidari Issan Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Hidari Issan Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 08, 2024
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HARE
Est: €2,000 - €4,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A HARE By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro province, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) An attractively compact and finely carved wood netsuke of a long-eared rabbit (usagi) with its head slightly turned to the left and lowered to the ground. The hairwork is neatly incised and the bulging eyes are inlaid in dark horn. Asymmetrical himotoshi to the underside and signed within a raised oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. LENGTH 4.2 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear and light scratches. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a hare, by Hidari Issan, 19th century, sold at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 14 September 2011, New York, lot 622 (sold for USD 8,750). Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a hare, by Hidari Issan, 19th century, sold at Christie’s, Art of Japan, 8 December 2016, London, lot 27 (sold for GBP 4,375).
Galerie Zacke
Nov. 08, 2024
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB THREE-CASE WOOD INRO DEPICTING A DRAGON SOARING IN THE SKY
Est: €7,500 - €15,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB THREE-CASE WOOD INRO DEPICTING A DRAGON SOARING IN THE SKY By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 241. Highly polished, the wood of a dark, rich, chocolate-brown tone, superbly carved in high relief with a continuous scene of a dragon frolicking among swirling clouds, the face with a determined expression as it pursues the object of its desires – the illustrious magical tama pearl - the eyes with silver-rimmed, dark horn pupils, all against a masterfully worked ishime ground. The sinuous body and curving flames indicating furious movement. The design trailing over the top and base. Signed to the underside within an oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. HEIGHT 8.2 cm, LENGTH 7.2 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Old repair to the nose and two claws near the cord hole. Provenance: Ex-collection Mark T. Hindson (1883-1968). Sold at Sotheby’s London, 20 October 1969, lot 1321. Hidari Issan is a noteworthy and highly regarded netsuke carver, not least by Frederick Meinertzhagen who ranked him among the best, alongside Toyomasa, Tadatoshi, and Ikkan. In praise of the present lot, Meinertzhagen notes “a remarkably fine example of Ichizan’s work, treated with power and spirit”. For a discussion and illustrations of pale wood inro carved with a pair of dragons by Hidari Issan, see Else and Heinz Kress (2013) Carved by Hidari Issan: Powerful Dragons among Clouds and Waves, INSJ 33/1, p. 46-50. The carver seems to have enjoyed producing the billowing clouds and twisted flames indicating the aggressive speed of these magnificent mythical creatures. It is rather uncommon to find such a boldly carved and stained example. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a coiled dragon which would be a beautiful match to the present inro, by Hidari Issan, c. 1840, 4.3 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 28 April 2023, Vienna, lot 148 (sold for EUR 9,100). Compare a related three-case wood inro of a tortoise with similar eyes inlaid in dark horn with gilt metal surrounds, by Hidari Issan, early 19th century, 8 cm, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 3 May 2024, Vienna, lot 321 (sold for EUR 7,150).
Galerie Zacke
Nov. 08, 2024
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE TWO-CASE WOOD INRO WITH TORTOISES
Est: €1,500 - €3,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE TWO-CASE WOOD INRO WITH TORTOISES By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 with kakihan ‘toku’ Japan, Iwashiro province, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Naturalistically carved with three tortoises in low relief, with neatly detailed carapaces, backed by a stippled ground, their eyes inlaid in dark horn. The surface is beautifully polished to highlight the natural wood grain, the interior is lacquered in roiro. Signed to the base HIDARI ISSAN with the characteristic toku kakihan. HEIGHT 8 cm, LENGTH 7.3 cm Condition: Very good condition with only very minor wear. Literature comparison: Compare a related four-case inro with puppies by Hidari Issan and with the same kao, dated circa 1840, at Rosemary Bandini. Auction comparison: Compare a related carved four-case inro with animals depicting the junishi, by Hidari Issan, at Christie’s, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, London, lot 113 (sold for GBP 10,625). Compare a related three-case inro in form of a tortoise by Hidari Issan, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 3 May 2024, Vienna, lot 321 (sold for EUR 7,150).
Galerie Zacke
May. 03, 2024
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB THREE-CASE WOOD INRO OF A TORTOISE
Est: €2,500 - €5,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB THREE-CASE WOOD INRO OF A TORTOISE By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Naturalistically carved as a tortoise with its limbs almost entirely retracted within its carapace, its shell rendered with finely plated scoots, its lower plastron showing superb staining and incision work. The eyes are inlaid in dark horn with gilt metal surrounds. Signed to the underside within an oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN – the carver was known for his masterful netsuke and inro depicting tortoises. HEIGHT 8 cm, LENGTH 5.5 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, some minuscule nibbling to edges, traces of use to the interior, and one small chip to the toe of the right hind leg. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood inro by the same artist, signed Hidari Issan, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 16 March 2016, New York, lot 3115 (sold for USD 6,000).
Galerie Zacke
Jan. 17, 2024
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX
Est: €1,500 - €3,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro Province, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a recumbent ox, bearing irresistible character and charm, the carving somewhat rustic, yet still remarkably refined. The ox has its head slightly lowered and turned to the left, the crisply carved feet are tucked under the body for compactness, the spine and neck folds are expressed, the eyes inlaid in dark horn, and the hairwork beautifully incised. The underside with two himotoshi and signed to the haunch within the typical raised oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. LENGTH 3.9 cm Condition: Very good condition. Microscopic nicks to the edge of one hoof and one ear. Minor expected wear. Literature comparison: Oxen are a rare subject by Hidari Issan. For another example see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 250.
Galerie Zacke
Nov. 03, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX
Est: €2,400 - €5,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OX By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro Province, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a recumbent ox, bearing irresistible character and charm, the carving somewhat rustic, yet still remarkably refined. The ox has its head slightly lowered and turned to the left, the crisply carved feet are tucked under the body for compactness, the spine and neck folds are expressed, the eyes inlaid in dark horn, and the hairwork beautifully incised. The underside with two himotoshi and signed to the haunch within the typical raised oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. LENGTH 3.9 cm Condition: Very good condition. Microscopic nicks to the edge of one hoof and one ear. Minor expected wear. Literature comparison: Oxen are a rare subject by Hidari Issan. For another example see Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 250.
Galerie Zacke
Sep. 08, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE DEPICTING AN OX HERDER
Est: €500 - €1,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE DEPICTING AN OX HERDER By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 with seal Japan, Iwashiro Province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The walnut finely engraved with a design referencing the famous ten ox herding pictures, a Zen Buddhist parable which draws a parallel between the herdboy and ox and the attainment of enlightenment. The front is carved in relief with an image of a herdboy playing the flute, while the reverse shows an ox amongst grasses. Two himotoshi through the nut and signed HIDARI ISSAN with a square seal. LENGTH 3.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and natural flaws to the material.
Galerie Zacke
Jun. 16, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE OF A ROLY POLY DARUMA
Est: €800 - €1,500
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE OF A ROLY POLY DARUMA By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro Province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) A fine and humorous kurumi (walnut) netsuke depicting a Daruma doll completely enveloped in its robe, only the well-carved face is visible, as he looks upwards, his eyes inlaid in dark horn with metal surrounds. Two himotoshi to the back, one florally rimmed, and signed within a recessed oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. HEIGHT 4.4 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and natural flaws to the material. Auction comparison: Compare to a closely related kurumi netsuke of Daruma, unsigned and attributed to Hidari Issan, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 300 (sold for 1,830 EUR).
Galerie Zacke
Jun. 16, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE DEPICTING AN OX HERDER
Est: €800 - €1,500
HIDARI ISSAN: A KURUMI (WALNUT) NETSUKE DEPICTING AN OX HERDER By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 with seal Japan, Iwashiro Province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The walnut finely engraved with a design referencing the famous ten ox herding pictures, a Zen Buddhist parable which draws a parallel between the herdboy and ox and the attainment of enlightenment. The front is carved in relief with an image of a herdboy playing the flute, while the reverse shows an ox amongst grasses. Two himotoshi through the nut and signed HIDARI ISSAN with a square seal. LENGTH 3.5 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and natural flaws to the material.
Galerie Zacke
Apr. 28, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A RARE WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF SOJOBO, THE TENGU KING OF MOUNT KURAMA
Est: €2,400 - €5,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A RARE WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF SOJOBO, THE TENGU KING OF MOUNT KURAMA By Hidari Issan (1804-1857), signed Hidari Issan 左一山 with kakihan Japan, Iwashiro, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) A well-sized wood netsuke, boldly carved as the Tengu King wearing the characteristic tokin cap of the yamabushi, his face with a stern expression, his bulging eyes with round gilt-ringed pupils, his prominent nose with recessed nostrils, flanked by strong cheeks, his long beard neatly incised and curling back to the reverse below the broad himotoshi bar signed HIDARI ISSAN with a kakihan based on the character Toku 篤. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina. HEIGHT 4.6 cm, LENGTH 4 cm Condition: Good condition with some wear, few light scratches, one larger scratch to the back of the himotoshi bar. Provenance: Ex-collection Dr. Walter Heihs. Sotheby’s, 17 June 1998, London, lot 712. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above. Sojobo is the mythical king and god of the tengu. He has the appearance of a yamabushi and is often depicted wearing their tokin cap. The other distinctive physical characteristics of Sojobo include his long, white hair and unnaturally long nose. Sojobo is said to live on Mount Kurama. He rules over the other tengu that inhabit Mount Kurama in addition to all the other tengu in Japan. He is extremely powerful, and one legend says he has the strength of 1,000 normal tengu. He is perhaps best known for the legend of his teaching the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (then known by his childhood name Ushiwaka-maru or Shanao) the arts of swordsmanship, tactics, and magic. Literature comparison: Mask netsuke by Hidari Issan are rare with only very few examples recorded. A mask netsuke of Okame bearing a similar kakihan is illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 1, p. 519. Another mask netsuke depicting a comical mask of Emi-men is illustrated in Davey, Neil K. / Tripp, Susan G. (1993) The Garrett Collection, p. 293, no. 426.
Galerie Zacke
Apr. 28, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A CHARMING WOOD NETSUKE OF A DARUMA DOLL
Est: €1,200 - €2,500
HIDARI ISSAN: A CHARMING WOOD NETSUKE OF A DARUMA DOLL By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro Province, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Wilhelm, Gabor (2004) Bulletin Franco-Japonais, no. 84, p. 36-37 (unillustrated). Wilhelm, Gabor (Summer 2004) On the Continent, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2, p. 20. Well carved as a Daruma doll with hairy arms raised and hands placed on his head, the bearded face with a cheerful expression, the mouth wide open revealing tongue and teeth, the eyes inlaid with dark wood ringed in gilt-metal, as is typical for this artist. Good himotoshi, the larger hole generously excavated and forming a base ring. Signed within an oblong reserve HIDARI ISSAN. HEIGHT 3.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Galerie Yamato, Paris, 2004, no. 15. French private collection, acquired from the above. A Daruma doll is a round, traditional roly-poly doll (okiagari) modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. Though considered a toy by some, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a Roly-Poly Daruma by Hidari Issan, formerly in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.91.250.271.
Galerie Zacke
Apr. 28, 2023
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED DRAGON
Est: €4,000 - €8,000
HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED DRAGON By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. I, p. 520. Sydney L. Moss (2008) Such Stuff as Dreams are made on. Japanese netsuke from the Willi G. Bosshard collection, p. 145, no. 69. Exquisitely carved as a smooth dragon coiling its body back on itself in irregular loops and clutching a sacred tama (jewel) in its left foreclaw. The underside is reticulated, well detailed with claws, scales, and a curling tail tip, and the beast’s head is pulled back in a defensive pose. The glaring eyes are inlaid in bone with gilt-rimmed dark horn pupils. LENGTH 4.3 cm Condition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear. Provenance: Sotheby’s, 22 January 1977, Honolulu, lot 62. Kunsthandel Klefisch, June 1996, Cologne. Ex-collection Willi G. Bosshard, acquired from the above. Sydney L. Moss, London, 2008. British collection, acquired from the above. Hidari Issan is a noteworthy and highly regarded netsuke carver, not least by Frederick Meinertzhagen who ranked him among the best, alongside Toyomasa, Tadatoshi, and Ikkan, and recorded a netsuke of his dated as early as 1798. Literature comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a coiled dragon with tama by Hidari Issan, with similarly inlaid eyes, illustrated in Ducros, Alain (1987) Netsuke & Sagemono 2, p. 90, no. 177. Auction comparison: The artist has carved several variations of this subject, though none of them are exactly alike. One was sold at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 72 ( sold for 11,250 GBP); another was sold at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 129 ( sold for 10,112 EUR); and a third was sold at Galerie Zacke, 27 January 2022, Vienna, lot 600 ( sold for 7,584 EUR).
Galerie Zacke
Nov. 04, 2022
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A PILE OF DESSICATED FISHES
Est: €1,200 - €2,500
HIDARI ISSAN: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A PILE OF DESSICATED FISHES By Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山 Japan, Iwashiro province, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Depicting a pile of five fishes overlapping each other, their desiccated skins minutely detailed and stippled, the wood bearing a fine patina, and the eyes inlaid in mother-of-pearl with black-lacquered pupils. Several options for natural himotoshi due to the open-worked nature of the netsuke. Signed within an oval reserve HIDARI ISSAN. LENGTH 4.2 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor associated surface wear. Fine patina. Provenance: British private collection. Auction comparison: Compare to a closely related wood netsuke, formerly in the collection of M.T Hindson, illustrated in Bandini, Rosemary (2019), The Larry Caplan Collection of Japanese Netsuke, no. 41.
Galerie Zacke
Jun. 04, 2021
HIDARI ISSAN: A DARK WOOD NETSUKE OF A KITSUNE
Est: €600 - €1,200
Ref3 HIDARI ISSAN: A DARK WOOD NETSUKE OF A KITSUNE By Hidari Issan, signed Issan Japan, Mutsu (Iwashiro) Province, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Finely carved as a fox (kitsune) wearing a kimono, executed in ukibori and neatly incised with geometric patterns, the eyes inlaid in bone and dark horn. Two asymmetrical himotoshi, the smaller to the back and the larger to the underside. Signed within an oval reserve – ISSAN. The wood of an appealing reddish-dark color. HEIGHT 3.6 cm Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear. Provenance: Ex-collection Jury Kolodotschko, purchased at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 16 September 2009, New York, lot 3004 ( part lot, sold for 3,050 USD).
Galerie Zacke
Nov. 09, 2011
A Three-Case Inro
Est: £4,000 - £5,000
A Three-Case Inro Signed Hidari Issan, Edo Period (19th century) Finely carved as a tortoise, with netsuke and ojime similarly carved as tortoises, the netsuke signed Komin and kakihan, the ojime signed Masanao 8.5cm. long
Christie's
Nov. 09, 2011
A Nut Netsuke
Est: £400 - £500
A Nut Netsuke Signed Hidari Issan, Edo Period (19th century) Carved as Daruma 3.8cm. high
Christie's