Two views of an ivory netsuke of a recumbent ox by Tomotada sold at £120,000 as part of the second tranche of the Kitchen collection at Bonhams.
The centrepiece of Bonhams’ Japanese offering on May 11 was the second part of the extraordinary collection of netsuke formed by US concert pianist Julius Katchen (1926-69) and his wife Arlette.
The couple made their first purchase in Kyoto while on a concert tour of Japan in 1953, later immersing themselves in the subject with the encouragement of London dealer Geoffrey Moss.