† A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF AN AMA STRUGGLING WITH AN OCTOPUS, ATTRIBUTED TO IKKYUAttributed to Ikkyu, signed Minko 珉江Japan, Nagoya, second half of 19th centuryIntricately carved, the diver girl ensnared in the octopus’ tentacles, which are well detailed with numerous circular suckers. With one hand she is grabbing the tip of one tentacle, the other holding her long knife, which is facing away from the octopus, indicating she has no plans on freeing herself anytime soon. Her hair is finely incised and her eyes are inlaid with dark horn, the octopus’ with mother-of-pearl. The details are further heightened by skillful staining. Several natural himotoshi due to the openwork. The underside with a central himotoshi and signed Minko within an inlaid plaque. LENGTH 4.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Sotheby’s, 23 May 1977, London, lot 74. A noted private collection, USA, acquired from the above. The Minko signature on the present carving is either replaced or was inlaid by a follower of Minko who worked in the style of Ikkyu. The octopus was one of Ikkyu’s favorite subjects and he executed them in his own imaginative and immediately recognizable design. The mixture of the humorous character coupled with the very fine and detailed carving make his netsuke incredibly unique, and as a result high in demand.Literature comparison:Compare a related netsuke by Ikkyu, dated early Meiji, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 228.Museum comparison: Compare a related netsuke of a standing octopus by Ikkyu, dated early 19th century, formerly in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.91.250.41.Auction comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of an octopus in a pot by Ikkyu, dated second half of 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 106 (sold for 24,016 EUR). Compare a related wood netsuke of an octopus with a straw bundle by Ikkyu, dated third quarter of the 19th century, at Lempertz, 11 June 2022, Cologne, lot 409 (sold for 10,080 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.