Update from INS San Francisco Chapter Meeting
The San francisco Chapter gathered at the home of Anne and Alan Fisher on Sunday, September 13, 2009, where old and new member collectors shared treats and wine. Our new INS president, Marsha Vargas Handley, began the meeting with a history and stories of Japanese netsuke dealers in the bay area. We discussed the sale of the Bluette Kirchhoff collection and the recent INS New York Convention (both very successful events), as well as the possibility of a combined meeting of the three West Coast chapters between conventions.
A new collector, Mandy Anderson, who attended her first convention in New York, brought us some fresh insights and the excitement of a new collector. We enjoyed looking at her manju netsuke of Nitta no Shiro riding the boar while a oni on the other side was ready to create mischief — which it has already done, and Mandy is on the trail of her next oni.
Another new guest was Robert Lee who started posting on the INS Forum several months ago. Robert is primarily interested in photography, but he enjoyed us to learn more about his deceased father's collection. He has rapidly accumulated information about the collection from contributors on the web site. Among about twenty pieces he brought to share, he delighted us with an Okamoto monkey, beautifully done with a lively face, and a Shibayama inro/netsuke/ojime suite. Looking at these pieces was sheer pleasure and made us think of the love and care his father must have taken in his collecting. His choice showed a keen eye and his love of nature. The INS Forum is a great vehicle for people to gain knowledge about netsuke and to recruit new members to the INS local chapters.
Bob Di Base and Lindsey Sorci brought a number of fine netsuke along with an unusual lively piece in stag–antler of a figure of Shoki with a shishi on its head in place of the usual oni. As both both Shoki and the shishi are protective figures—the combination is rare. This combination of the figures can be found in Hokusai paintings but is unusual in netsuke form.
Kumiko Iwasawa brought a very fine ton–kotsu in the form of a leather tobacco pouch(tabako–ire) inlaid with five coins signed Masanao, along with a number of new publications.
Alan Fisher talked a bit about the legend Kintaro/Kintoki and showed two examples, one of which we decided was more likely Momotaro, the Peach–ling. Alan was assisted by a guest, Kazue Vedder, who has taught Japanese in the bay Area for the past twenty years, and who brought insights and knowledge about Japanese life and culture to our group.
At the last minute, Alan Fisher showed a very fine Kyoto ivory boar, which he obtained at the NY convention, that was one of the stars of the meeting but did not get enough attention as the meeting came to a close in the late afternoon. He will need to bring that one back.
All through the meeting we highly valued the interesting and expert opinions Marsha Vargas and Kumiko Iwasawa gave the attending members of our group.
This article is written by Jim Brady in INS Journal Volume 29 No.4 Winter 2009