An Interesting Japanese 2-case Bamboo Inro. Edo Period.
Ht. 2 3/4 x 1 7/8 x 1 ins. (7 x 4.8 x 2.5 cms) This unusual inro is carved from solid bamboo. Normally in inro the seal is carried inside but in this case the seal sits on top in a recess, secured by the cord. The seal has never been cut. As with most carved lacquer inro, to which it is similar, the artist has made the piece in Chinese style, in this case with scholars in a landscape on one side and a figure beside a pavilion on the other ...click for details
A Rare Japanese Tobacco Box Inro (Tonkotsu) with Netsuke. Edo Period.
Ht. of box 5 3/8 ins. (13.7 cms) Diam. of netsuke 1 5/8 ins. (4.2 cms) This unusually large tonkotsu is inlaid with segments of "aogai" shell in the technique known as "raden". It forms part of the smoking paraphernalia worn by many Japanese men when smoking, then as now, was almost universal. It is in very good condition. As can be seen from the photos, the bottom of one cord guide is chipped and on the ...click for details
A Fine Japanese Signed Wood Seal Netsuke. Late Edo Period.
Ht. 1 5/8 ins. (4 cms) This design of this fine netsuke is a seated puppy with a miniature "mokugyo" bell tied around its neck with a ribbon. The himotoshi (cord hole) is formed underneath its right hand paw. The vertical 3-character signature can read Naganari (or Chosei ...click for details
A Good Japanese Signed Wood Netsuke by Masakazu. Edo Period. 19th. Century
Ht. 1 7/8 ins. (4.8 cms) This unusual piece shows a seated figure of Hotei on a three-legged stand. It is signed Masakazu. There are two recorded netsuke carvers with the same name. One was a pupil of Masanao who worked in Miyajiricho in Ise Province. The other, acco ...click for details
A Good Japanese Signed Wood Netsuke by Masakazu. Edo Period. 19th. Century
Ht. 1 7/8 ins. (4.8 cms) This unusual piece shows a seated figure of Hotei on a three-legged stand. It is signed Masakazu. There are two recorded netsuke carvers with the same name. One was a pupil of Masanao who worked in Miyajiricho in Ise Province. The other, acco ...click for details
A Japanese Wood Netsuke of Puppy on Fan. Edo Period. Mid 19th. Century
Max. width 2 ins. (5 cms) This charming study shows a puppy asleep on an uchiwa fan. The netsuke is in very good condition with no damage and no repairs. There is slight, attractive wear from use and a good colour and patina. It is not quite as glossy as it appears in the photos.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A MODERN REPRODUCTION.
A Japanese Lacquered Wood Netsuke of a Pleasure Craft. Edo Period 1st. Half 19th. Century
Max.dimension 2 ins. (5.1 cms) This unusual piece depicts a pleasure boat with passengers shown on its various decks. It is decorated using several lacquer techniques; negoro (red over black) oxidised silver, nashiji and flakes of gold leaf under the lacquer. The lower part showing the waves and the underneath are plain wood. It is in good worn condition. One corner of the roof has been broken, re-stuck a ...click for details
A Fine Japanese Wood Netsuke of Two Sennin Playing Go. Edo Period
Length 1 1/2 ins. (3.8 cms) This very amusing netsuke is probably a parody of a well-known subject. There is a myth or legend regarding two saintly officials of the Universe (see Jonas; Netsuke. London 1928), one of whom is the spirit of the constellation, The Great Bear, whose duty it is to fill in the dates when someone will die, the other figure fills in the dates of all the births. However, in this study the two figures ar ...click for details
A Superb Japanese Somada Style Inro. Edo Period
Ht. 3 1/4 ins. x 2 1/4 ins. (8.3 x 5.7 cms) This beautiful inro is a miracle of fine craftsmanship. The technique of inlaying such tiny pieces of shell is very demanding, especially on the narrow vertical edge. It dates from the frist half of the 19th. century during the Edo Period, The condition is very good, there is the expected slight wear on the lower edges where it has rubbed against the wearer's kimono. There are 2 tiny chips, one on ...click for details
A Very Rare & Unusual Japanese Wood Sagemono in the Form of an Emaciated Monkey. Mid-Edo Period.
Ht. 3 7/8 ins. (10 cms). This rather extraordinary object is a tonkotsu or tobacco box worn like an inro suspended from a netsuke and ojime. Most men of all classes wore some kind of tobacco container as smoking was then, as now, almost universal in Japan. We have referred to the form as being that of a monkey but their are features which may suggest another creature or possible a mythical bein ...click for details
