Netsuke Three Monkeys
HOKYUDO ITSUMIN – NETSUKE WITH THE THREE WISE MONKEYS AT A KŌSHINTŌ STONE #5
At the Zacke auction house in Vienna, on November 3, 2023, during the special session Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, an extraordinary piece was offered (lot no. 238). It was a wooden netsuke by the master Hokyudo Itsumin (蓬丘堂逸民), created in the second half of the 19th century in Edo (Tokyo).
This tiny sculpture, measuring only 4.9 cm in height, depicts the Three Wise Monkeys (三匹猿 Sambiki Saru) arranged in a pyramid. The figures sit in front of a stele – a Kōshintō stone (庚申塔) – inscribed with the character Ko 庚. This is a direct reference to Kōshin (庚申) beliefs, a religious current combining elements of Taoism, Buddhism, and Shintō. In Kōshin tradition, it was believed that every 60 days the three spirits Sanshi (三尸) would leave a person’s body to report their misdeeds to the deity Tentei 天帝. To prevent this, people would stay awake all night, and the Three Monkeys, who see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil, became a symbol of protection and morality.
Itsumin’s carving combines humor and naturalism. The monkeys’ eyes are inlaid with two types of horn – light and dark – giving them remarkable expressiveness. The wood was subtly stained, and the stele polished to resemble natural grain. On the underside, the artist placed his signature in a rectangular reserve: 蓬丘堂逸民 (HOKYUDO ITSUMIN to – “carved by Hokyudo Itsumin”), next to natural himotoshi 紐通し holes through which the cord for attaching the netsuke would pass.
The condition was described as very good – only slight traces of use were visible, and one eye had been replaced in the past.
The piece was sold for €4,420 (including fees).
The auction photos clearly illustrate the character of the carving: the pyramidal arrangement of the monkeys, the stele with the Ko 庚 inscription, finely carved hands and faces, and the elegant himotoshi with the artist’s signature.
MASATAMI (正民) – A RARE NETSUKE WITH THE THREE WISE MONKEYS #7
On November 4, 2022, in Vienna, at the auction house Zacke, during the Fine Netsuke & Sagemono session, a particularly rare piece came under the hammer (lot no. 139). It was an ivory netsuke by the master Masatami (正民), also known as Shomin, active during the Meiji era (1868–1912).
The sculpture is small – measuring only 3 cm in length and 2.7 cm in height – but it carries both mastery and uniqueness. Masatami depicted the Three Wise Monkeys (三匹猿 Sambiki Saru) in a compact, almost circular arrangement. The figures embrace and complement one another: one covers its eyes, the second its ears, the third its mouth. The result is a harmonious, compact composition, perfectly suited to be worn at the waist.
The details reveal the hand of the master. The monkeys’ faces have small, concentrated eyes, painted with black sumi ink (墨) and further inlaid with dark horn, giving them a distinctive expression. The fur was finely incised with short, regular strokes, while the hands and fingers were carved with remarkable precision. On the underside appears the signature MASATAMI 正民 in a rectangular reserve, with natural himotoshi 紐通し passing through the leg of one monkey, preserving the netsuke’s practical function.
The condition was described as excellent, with only minor traces of surface wear. The netsuke came from a private collection in Italy, further enhancing its historical significance.
The piece sold for €3,380 (including Buyer’s Premium). This is important, because although Masatami often carved monkey motifs, the Sambiki Saru scene – the Three Monkeys – is exceptionally rare in his oeuvre. Experts emphasize that the absence of comparable examples in the literature makes this miniature unique on the art market.
Masatami’s netsuke is thus not only a testament to masterful craftsmanship, but also proof that even a popular symbol – three monkeys who “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” – can, in the hands of an artist, become a rare and highly sought-after collector’s treasure.
CHIKUSAI (竹齋) – NETSUKE WITH THE THREE WISE MONKEYS AND A CHESTNUT #8
At the Zacke auction in Vienna on April 22, 2022, during the Fine Netsuke & Sagemono session, a remarkable object was offered (lot no. 205). It was a netsuke by Chikusai (竹齋), created in Edo/Tokyo in the second half of the 19th century.
The miniature, measuring only 3 cm in height, depicts the Three Wise Monkeys (三匹猿 Sambiki Saru) hidden inside a hollow chestnut. The carver cleverly merged the natural form of the nut with the symbolic motif – the monkeys peek out from within the shell and around it, creating a lively and slightly humorous scene.
Each figure performs its symbolic gesture: one covers the eyes, another the ears, and the third the mouth. Most strikingly, the eyes of the “see no evil” monkey are made with double inlay of light and dark horn, giving them exceptional expressiveness. The chestnut itself was rendered with extraordinary attention to detail – its ribbed surface looks realistic, while the underside is covered with dense point carving, imitating the natural texture of the shell.
On the underside of the piece appears the artist’s signature Chikusai (竹齋) on a small plaque of stained bone. Next to it are two himotoshi 紐通し holes, decorated with floral borders, adding an elegant touch.
The condition was described as very good – only minor traces of use and a few small chips are visible. The netsuke came from a private collection in the United States.
The piece sold for €3,034 (including Buyer’s Premium).
Chikusai’s carving is a brilliant example of netsukeshi inventiveness – the artist not only faithfully represented the popular Three Monkeys motif, but also “hid” it within the natural form of a chestnut. In this way, the netsuke is playful, functional, and full of symbolic depth.
NETSUKE BY SHUGETSU – THE THREE WISE MONKEYS IN A COMPACT COMPOSITION #10
On September 1, 2022, in Vienna, at the auction house Zacke, during the Asian Art Discoveries – Japanese Art session, an extraordinary wooden netsuke was sold (lot no. …). It was signed Shugetsu (舟月) and created in Edo (Tokyo) in the first half of the 19th century, representing the classic period of late Edo (1615–1868).
The carving depicts the Three Wise Monkeys (三匹猿 Sambiki Saru) entwined in a tight, compact circle. Each one performs one of the gestures: covering its eyes, ears, or mouth, embodying the well-known proverb “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” The piece radiates intimacy and unity, as the monkeys are closely pressed together, almost merging into a single form.
The artist paid great attention to detail: the fur is finely incised, while the eyes, fingers, and feet are realistically executed. On the back of one monkey appears the signature SHUGETSU, which specialists attribute to the carver known as Shugetsu II. On the underside there is the traditional himotoshi 紐通し hole, placed between the legs.
The netsuke measures 3.8 cm in height and has survived in very good condition, with only a minor old repair to one foot, which does not detract from its artistic value.
🔹 Provenance: German private collection
🔹 Auction result: sold for €2,210 (including Buyer’s Premium)
An interesting fact is that in Shugetsu’s oeuvre, the motif of the Three Monkeys appears very rarely. As noted in scholarly sources (Scholten Japanese Art: Expressions of Style, 2001, p. 123, no. 152), the artist more often carved a single monkey performing the gesture, while the complete trio is an exception.
