† MINKO: AN EXQUISITE EBONY WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OXBy Tanaka Juntoku Minko (1735-1816), signed Minko 岷江 with kakihanJapan, Tsu, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Katchen, Arlette (2010) Netsuke 7, Vol. 2, p. 79, no. K249.A sensitively crafted depiction of a recumbent ox, its body hunched together forming a compact composition, the eyes inlaid in brass with dark pupils, red pigment used for some of the details such as the nostrils. The kokutan wood is beautifully polished, some of the incised hairwork is still visible within the crevices. Natural himotoshi and signed underneath the haunch MINKO and kakihan.LENGTH 3.6 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, fine patina. Provenance: Ex-collection Julius & Arlette Katchen, Paris. Sold at Bonhams, The Julius & Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I, 8 November 2016, London, lot 55. A noted private collection, USA, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: A closely related ebony wood netsuke of an ox, with red-inked signature Minko and kakihan, is illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 508.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related and unsigned ebony wood netsuke, in the style of Minko, at Van Ham, Netsuke & Japanische Kunst, 8 June 2017, Cologne, lot 1648 (sold for 3,612 EUR). Also compare to a closely related ebony wood netsuke of an ox with calf, by Minko, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 45 (sold for 6,938 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer’s premium – only for buyers within the EU.