HOSHUNSAI MASAYUKI: A MASTERFUL STAG ANTLER NETSUKE OF A DRAGON-HEADED MOKUGYO By Hoshunsai Masayuki, signed Masayuki Japan, Asakusa, Tokyo, second half of 19th century A Buddhist mokugyo (wooden fish-gong) with two confronting dragon heads sharing a tama (magical pearl) between their mouths. The dragon heads are dramatically three-dimensional, and one of them is covered in heavily spongiform material, yet still as finely carved as its opposite – a true masterpiece in every sense of the word! Thus, they appear like confronting opposites, embodying the yin and yang principle of ancient Chinese philosophy – a great source of inspiration to the Asakusa carvers. The long horns of the dragons extend downwards to either side of the instrument, forming fine curls along the way, and encircling an elaborate piercecarved formal design on each side, raised above an openworked wave ground. Central himotoshi above the signature in a raised square reserve in seal form MASAYUKI 正之. The other himotoshi ‘natural’ through the opening of the gong on the underside. HEIGHT 4.3 cm Condition: Very good condition with one age crack near the signature. Provenance: Ancient collection Charles Cartier-Bresson (1853-1921) collection no. 262. Charles Cartier-Bresson was a textile industrialist and art collector specializing particularly in works from Japan. He is the great uncle of famous photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Additional collection no. 490. Literature comparison: Compare to similar netsuke in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, Part 3, pp. 98-191, nos. 391-393. Auction comparison: Compare to a similar netsuke sold at Van Ham, Netsuke & Japanische Kunst, 8 December 2016, Cologne, lot 2464.