19th century netsuke of baying spotted deer standing on a base carved with a seal on the bottom. Image of the characters on Enlargement 1 is flipped left to right, so it shows the way an imprint will look. Elegant carving with pure clean lines, wonderful depiction of volume of the deer body, beautiful depiction of its spotted coat, eyes inlaid with light horn, painted pupils. Cord openings are formed by natural openings between deer’s legs...

This is a finely hand-carved Ebony Netsuke attributed to Jikan Ganbun, depicting a Tree Stump. Nicely detailed rendering of a tree stump with its rough textured exterior contrasting with a smooth top and bottom that are styled in a star shaped manner. The concave stump is slightly hollowed out, with a smaller stump on its side. There is a tiny ant looking figure that has been carved inside the stump. Netsuke is unsigned. It measures 1.25 inches in diameter and 0.50 inch tall...

19th century netsuke of a rooster on a drum. The subject symbolizes peace: according to a Chinese story, a drum was kept at the palace gate to alert soldiers in case of emergency, but during the reign of Emperor Yao the peace was maintained for so long, that the drum fell into disuse and became the favorite roost for local fowl. Excellent quality carving - see the rich depiction of differentiated feathers of its body and tail, eyes are inlaid with black horn...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of seated Thunder God Raiden, his drums that he uses to create thunder behind his back. Wonderful face with a touch of madness, excellent detailing, beautiful patina. There is an old restoration to a section of his scarf under the left arm - see left photo on Enlargement 5. Height 1.5 inches.

19th century netsuke of the famous warrior and statesman Takeshiuchi no Sukune cradling a boy on one hand, and a kneeling man with a sword and wearing a eboshi hat. The boy is the son of the Empress Jingo and is the future Emperor Ojin, to whose education Takeshiuchi devoted his later life. Superbly carved, great faces, elaborate hair and clothing arrangement and excellent textile patterns...

Stag horn netsuke depicting a Gama Sennin, a legendary figure of Japanese folklore, with a toad on his shoulder. Gama Sennin is represented in a pose with his left hand holding the hind leg of the toad, while the latter rests on his shoulders. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 5 x 2.3 x 2.2cm. State of conservation: Very good

19th century wooden netsuke of hibachi (portable charcoal-burning brazier) on 3 low legs and filled with short pieces of wood and charcoals. Unusual and clever subject in Japanese taste, perfectly caught “wabi-sabi” essence of the object with its elegant simplicity. Beautiful carving, wonderful depiction of wood structures in the logs, excellent wear and patina...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn / bone netsuke carved as 2 sprays of fungus growing on a tree stump. Superb elegant carving in Japanese taste, excellent rendition of fungus head textures. Very clever design, excellent wear and patina on the surface. Height 2 1/2 inches.

19th century boxwood netsuke of Thunder God Raiden standing on his drum that he tore open by beating it with a striker on the clouds. According to Japanese folklore by beating the drum Raiden creates thunder. The stretched leather part of the drum is lacquered in Negoro style: red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. The bottom of the drum is carved as a seal, with a seal script reading HARUYOSHI (alternative reading is Shunko) in a reserve shaped like a mallet of Daikoku...

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.

Late 18th to early 19th century netsuke of a boy seated on a huge bag and holding a double gourd in his hands. Strong early carving with very good detailing - see the flying sleeve, different textile patterns on an old patched bag and euphoric expression on the boy’s face. Old age lines, beautiful wear and patina turning deep yellow. Signed YOSHINAGA in oval reserve on the bottom - for information on this brilliant artist see p...

Early 19th century netsuke in manju shape carved with a map of Japanese islands, all prefectures’ names are engraved in minute calligraphy. Very nice work in the manner of Nanka, old age lines, beautiful patina, 2 parts fit nicely. Diameter 1 3/4 inches.

18th century netsuke of the magic horse appearing from a dried gourd. According to a Japanese legend the gourd belonged to Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) who could summon the magic horse out of it to be transported wherever he wanted. Elegantly carved piece with great face and mane. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1 9/16 inches.

Very unusual 19th century lacquered wood sashi type netsuke carved in a shape of a cloud dragon with its head turned back onto itself, its neck forming himotoshi. Does not photograph well, impressive when handled. Elegant and clever carving, all 4 legs are in different positions, nice rendition of its face and hair. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing, gold lacquer highlights, excellent wear and patina on the surface...

19th century netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is solid silver with medium relief coiled dragon with fiercely open mouth and flames issuing from its body. Superb quality metalwork - see its face, claws and crisply incised differentiated scales, touches of differently colored enamels. Warm patina, beautiful bowl with stable old age line, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Very powerful piece. Diameter 1 13/16 inches.

This very nicely carved 19th century lacquered wood netsuke in a clam form is 1 1/8” high, 1 ¾” from the widest part and 1 ½” in depth. It depicts two elders playing “go” in a building and the third person standing on a bridge outside the house. A tall pine tree is along side of the building. There are two hermit crabs and some sea weed painted on the top of shell. Aside from a few tiny scratches, it is in great condition.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape decorated on the front with a low relief carving of a bird (possibly a woodpecker) on a tree branch. Beautifully carved, eye inlaid with black horn. Two parts fit snugly, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Signed EISAI on the back - for information on this rare Asakusa artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 361. Diameter 1 1/2 inches.

Unusual 19th century netsuke in bean shape carved on the inside with a scene of a shishi family (2 adults and a cub) frolicking among flowering peony bushes. Rare use of anabori (cavern) carving technique, perfect sculpting with deep undercutting. Beautiful faces and flower petals, great patina. Signed NAGAMITSU SAKU (made by Nagamitsu) in oval reserve on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 813...