ITTAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A WILD BOARBy Ittan, signed Ittan 一旦 with kakihan Japan, Nagoya, c. 1850, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Bulletin Franco-Japonais, no. 30, p. 43.Bandini, Luigi (Winter 1993) Learning at the Auctions, Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, Vol. 13, No. 4, p. 42.Netsuke Kenkyukai Study Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, p. 5 (Advert from Szeszler Oriental Art).Burditt, David (Summer 1997) Authenticity in Netsuke, in International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 17, No. 2, p. 16, no. 7.Chappell, Sharon / Welch, Matthew (1999) Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, p. 118, no. 174.Exhibited: Exhibited by Szeszler Oriental Art at The London Netsuke Fair and Convention, May 1990.Minneapolis Institute of Art, Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, 1998, no. 174.Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Netsuke: The Japanese Art of Miniature Carving, 1999.Finely carved seated on its haunches with the head raised, well detailed with buffalo horn-inlaid pupils, a prominent snout, curved tusks, laid-back ears, the fur neatly incised and finely stained, the left legs forming the natural himotoshi, the underside signed ITTAN with a kakihan.LENGTH 5 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, the chin with a small nick.Provenance: Szeszler Oriental Art, New York, 1990. Alan Liss, acquired from the above. Sotheby’s, Fine Netsuke Including Property from the Collection of Alan R. Liss, 2 September 1993, Chicago, lot 54 (sold for USD 11,000). Denis Szeszler, New York, 1995. A private collection in the United Kingdom, acquired from the above. Sydney L. Moss, London, 2006. French private collection, acquired from the above.The present netsuke is an unusually fine example of Ittan’s work, who rarely carved netsuke depicting boars, and is stylistically reminiscent of Ikkan.As the twelfth animal of the zodiac, the boar often became a subject for netsuke carvers. For reasons which are probably self-evident, the boar is emblematic of unswerving courage. Perhaps because of its rounded proportions, it also came to represent wealth and well-being, and people born under its sign are said to be honest, courageous, forthright, and loyal. The boar’s fearless charge was infamous, and warriors who could stop an enraged animal became well known.Auction comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke of a recumbent boar by Ikkan, 5.1 cm wide, dated 19th century, at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 131 (sold for 10,000 USD).