Acquisitions from an Old Sotheby's Collection

[Jake6500]

Hi Tosogu enthusiasts,

 

Over the holidays I acquired a number of new fuchigashira that appear to have come from a single collection.

The acquisitions include 4 pieces in total, two signed Hamano Naoyuki and two signed (Ichinomiya) Tsunenao.

 

The two Tsunenao pieces still have their original auction tags from a Sotheby's collection dated November 15th 2000.

The other two pieces are missing their tags, but all 4 appear to have been from the same collector/owner.

(This does not mean they are from the same Sotheby's collection necessarily...)

 

These pieces are pretty high quality with some interesting motifs and I'm hopeful the mei might be authentic.

If not however it's no big deal as the quality was well worth the price I paid for these.

 

Photos taken with my less-than-spectacular phone camera and size compressed but I tried my best...

Do let me know what you all think!

 

I'll start with the Hamano pieces:

 

 

Edited February 22 by Jake6500

[Jake6500]

Posting the 4 pieces in 4 separate comments just for space...

 

 

 

[Jake6500]

Now the Tsunenao pieces with their original Sotheby's tags...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jake6500]

Last but not least, when it comes to my favourite from this set it's between the first Hamano piece I posted and this Taigong Wang design and I can't decide which I like most...

 

 

 

[Exclus1ve]

Hello, Jake!
Congratulations on adding to the collection!
The third set is definitely the best in terms of quality. Moreover, this theme is quite common, found in different artists.
Here is an example(not my) of Nagatsune, I'm not sure if it's gimei or not, but the quality is decent:

 

Hamano set, I think it's gimei. The quality and technique of carving are characteristic of this school, but far from perfect. I have a mumei set F/K Hamano school with the theme "The Three Kingdoms", the quality is similar, the technique and carving of the face and other parts are also similar.

[Geraint]

Dear Jake.

 

I happen to have the catalogue for that sale and can confirm that lot 669 was described thus: 'Three Fuchi - Kashira Edo period (19th century)  all with iroe takazogan, the First (sic) of shakudo nanako, with sages among pine trees, signed Soheishi Niudo Soten sei, the Second is possibly associated, of shibuichi, the fuchi with Taikobo fishing, the kashira with Shoki (?) riding on his hat over water, signed Tsunenao with kao, the Third is associated, the fuchi of shibuichi, the kashira of shakudo nanako with the race over the Uji river.'  The lot sold for £1,200.

Lot 675. THree shibuichi fuchi kashira Edo period (19th century)  the First bearing an ishime ground and inladi in gold, silver and shakudo takazogan with large peonies and foliage, signed Omori Teruhide, the Second carved and inlaid on the fuchi with a sarumawashi and on the kashira with a boy dancer, signed Tsunenao with kao, the Third bearing a basketwork ground and inlaid with a mass of flowers and foliage in iroe takazogan (3)  This lot also sold for £1,200

As was common practice only one of each lot was illustrated, for lot 669 it was the Soten example and for lot 675 it was the peonies.

 

They were part of the sale which was described as, ' The following twenty one lots were collected by a German professor of language in Japan between 1895 = 1920.'

 

Hope that helps a little.

 

All the best.

Edited February 22 by Geraint

[Jake6500]

On 2/23/2026 at 6:42 AM, Geraint said:

Dear Jake.

 

I happen to have the catalogue for that sale and can confirm that lot 669 was described thus: 'Three Fuchi - Kashira Edo period (19th century)  all with iroe takazogan, the First (sic) of shakudo nanako, with sages among pine trees, signed Soheishi Niudo Soten sei, the Second is possibly associated, of shibuichi, the fuchi with Taikobo fishing, the kashira with Shoki (?) riding on his hat over water, signed Tsunenao with kao, the Third is associated, the fuchi of shibuichi, the kashira of shakudo nanako with the race over the Uji river.'  The lot sold for £1,200.

Lot 675. THree shibuichi fuchi kashira Edo period (19th century)  the First bearing an ishime ground and inladi in gold, silver and shakudo takazogan with large peonies and foliage, signed Omori Teruhide, the Second carved and inlaid on the fuchi with a sarumawashi and on the kashira with a boy dancer, signed Tsunenao with kao, the Third bearing a basketwork ground and inlaid with a mass of flowers and foliage in iroe takazogan (3)  This lot also sold for £1,200

As was common practice only one of each lot was illustrated, for lot 669 it was the Soten example and for lot 675 it was the peonies.

 

They were part of the sale which was described as, ' The following twenty one lots were collected by a German professor of language in Japan between 1895 = 1920.'

 

Hope that helps a little.

 

All the best.

Wow Geraint! That helps heaps!

 

I can basically confirm the two Ichinomiya pieces at minimum were in fact in that auction lot. It is possible that the Uji River piece refers to one of the Hamano style pieces, however it may also be that those two have different origins despite coming from the same collector.

 

Thanks for posting these catalogue descriptions!

 

On 2/23/2026 at 5:20 AM, Exclus1ve said:

Hello, Jake!
Congratulations on adding to the collection!
The third set is definitely the best in terms of quality. Moreover, this theme is quite common, found in different artists.
Here is an example(not my) of Nagatsune, I'm not sure if it's gimei or not, but the quality is decent:

 

Hamano set, I think it's gimei. The quality and technique of carving are characteristic of this school, but far from perfect. I have a mumei set F/K Hamano school with the theme "The Three Kingdoms", the quality is similar, the technique and carving of the face and other parts are also similar.

 

They could well be gimei given that Hamano Naoyuki was a big name. Keep in mind though that my pictures aren't the best. They definitely all look nicer in hand!

 

I got each of these pretty cheap (roughly 60,000 yen per piece) so I think based on the quality alone they were a good deal.

 

I have a 5th and final piece that was (a LOT) more expensive on its way so stay tuned for a separate thread about that when it arrives...

Edited February 23 by Jake6500