19th century netsuke in manju pillow shape carved on the front with a scholarly landscape of Mount Fuji partially obscured by clouds, a wide bay with a sail boat and pines, and a lower part depicting 3 nasubi (eggplants) of different sizes. Excellent design in Japanee taste, superb quality carving, wonderful mellow patina turning honey color, wear to the back. Signed GYOKUHOSAI followed by a seal (rather worn) on the back - the artist is well known for that kind of work and is discussed on p...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of obihasami type carved with a design of a woven fence. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Excellent clever and subtle piece typical of Asakusa school, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Wonderful representative piece for a collection of different netsuke types. Length 4 1/8 inches.

19th century ebony netsuke of a crouching rat with its young climbing on mother’s back. Wonderfully captured interaction, superb detailed carving, very beautiful patina, in excellent condition. Length 2.51 inches.

19th century boxwood netsuke of a blind masseuse working on a client. The masseur has a typical bump on his head, as is usual with portrayal of blind in netsuke. Wonderful carving with great faces, muscles of the client and excellent depiction of textile lines, rich warm patina. Signed NOBUFUSA on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 834 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 1/8 inches.

This is a finely carved 19th century Japanese netsuke depicting a charming dog holding its paws atop a awabi shell while playing with it. Very nice hair work. Eyes inlaid with stag horn. Netsuke measures 1.50 inches (3.8cm) wide, and 1.10 inches (2.8cm) tall. Unsigned.

19th century wooden netsuke of two frogs frolicking on differently sized peony buds with stems. Wonderfull quality carving (see finely incised petals texture) carved, very beautiful warm patina. Signed GYOKUSEKI on the bottom - there is Gyokuseki listed on p. 428 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, but this is much better quality carving than his usual work, probably a different carver with the same name. Length 2 inches.

Japanese Wood and Staghorn Ojime, 19th C. Meiji period, 3/4" wide in the center widest part, 3/4" high, front and back is Staghorn, center is wood, round bead shape with deep carved lines, 2 holes on both side where cord go through between Netsuke and Inro.

19th century netsuke depicting Ashinaga seated next to a basket, his absurdly long legs raising higher than his head, wearing a skirt, a short European jacket and tiger skin pants. In Japanese legends he is often accompanied by Tenaga (long arms) whom he puts on his back and goes fishing. Very nice work, wonderful smiling face, buttons are inlaid with horn, pleasant wear and patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

19th century 2-toned ichii (yew wood) netsuke of Hotei (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, who is considered to be an incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future) carrying his bag on the back suspended by a stick across his shoulder. Very good quality carving - see facial expression with a wide smile and wonderful flow of his robe...

19th century wooden netsuke of a theatrical mask, traces of painted mustache identifies the character as Chujo. Made in saishiki technique - the wood is covered with gesso, which in turn is painted in bright colors. A lot of wear to the surface, but still has good presence. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of half of a mokugye - a Buddhist gong in a shape of a fish with its head touching its tail, and a curled lotus leaf with a stem resting on the gong. Unusual combination of Buddhist symbols, great carving of fins and scales, leaf texture, eyes of the fish are inlaid with black horn. Expertly stained, beautiful warm patina with wonderful wear. Excellent netsuke. Length 1 3/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke carved as double theatrical masks of Okina and Okame. Nice pairing of characters, excellent quality carving, wonderful faces, great detailing, beautiful wear and rich lustrous patina. Height 1.5 inches.

19th century long wooden netsuke of nyoi - a Buddhist scepter carved as a length of a reishi fungus with three fungus heads. Did not photograph well. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge, and reishi fungus represents the fabled Fungus of Immortality. Carved out of dense beautiful brown rosewood, elegant design in Japanese taste, great depiction of fungus texture, wonderful patina and excellent sheen to the surface from being handled...

19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with 8 cloth dolls of Zen Patriarch Daruma. This representation of Daruma refers to him stretching after 9 years of continuous meditation, when his legs withered from not moving all those years. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, beautiful floret surrounds to the holes, superb patina. Signed SHOZAN on the side - the artist is listed on p...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with Shibayama inlay depicting 3 utensils for tea ceremony: haboki (feather brush for ashes), sumitori (charcoal basket) and hibashi (fire tongues). Clever design, beautiful detailed inlay work - see the texture of silver tongues). The bowl is ebony, the top is boxwood, materials used for inlay are mother of pearl, silver, gold, walnut skin and 2 types of dark wood. Plain back, old silk cord, two parts fit nicely, beautiful mellow patina...

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of abalone shell. Good design, natural imperfections in staghorn, stained pale red, overall in very good condition. Length 13/16 inches.

A Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting Shojo crouched in a typical posture, with his hand resting on his knee, while sleeping from the effects of too much sake, the kimono is finely carved with geometric motifs as well as the long hair on the back. Similar examples of the Nagoya carvers are illustrated in Meinertzhagen, MCI, p.844, Davey, MTH, p.189, no.570 and Lazarnick, NIA, p. .1063. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,3 x 2,7 x 2,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition

19th century small ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with a pierced design of a butterly by a blooming peony. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, pleasant patina, in great condition. Height 3/8 inches.