18th century netsuke of a reclining shishi with its head turned to the right, its mouth wide open as it bites its rear paw (probably tries to take out something stuck between its pads). Unusual posture, very strong early piece, eyes inlaid with dark horn, a loose ball in its mouth, superb oversized powerful paws, excellent hairwork (see its bushy tail and mane), beautiful slightly convex (not flat) bottom...

19th netsuke of two Tatebina - a male and female doll figures displayed during Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), which starts on the 3rd day of the 3rd month. Of standing, flattened form with intentionally simplified doll faces and superbly incised floral patterns on the robes, nice wear and patina. Signed HOICHI on the back - for information on this excellent carver from Hojitsu school see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 476...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes standing wearing only a cloth skirt and carrying a large log on his back. Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) was very popular in the capital Edo. It contained numerous tales of an outlaw named Sung-Chiang and his 108 followers. Wonderful arrogant face, nice staining and etching, old age lines, beautiful wear and patina. Very well balanced, stands on its own on flat surface...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting a Chinese elder holding a drum and a striker in his hands, and two karako (Chinese boys) clinging to his coat. Excellent carving with wonderful detailed faces (see the teeth of the elder), nice flow to the lines of their robes, great incised textile patterns. Superb patina with fine sheen, beautiful wear. Height 1 7/8 inches.

19th century netsuke of a swan (cygnet), its shape compact, neck bent back and head resting on its body, looking forward and up. Elegant clever design capturing the essence of the creature. Superbly modeled, eyes inlaid with black horn. Excellent wear and patina, old stable age lines, compressed dust on the surface, extremely pleasant to handle. Formerly in the Raymond Bushell collection, illustrated in NETSUKE FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR, p. 208, number 641. Length 1 1/2 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke in the manner of Tomotada of a recumbent cow with its head resting on a small calf as she cleans his coat with her tongue. Perfectly catches the mood of the scene, strong early carving, hooves bent beneath their bodies for compactness, beautiful wear consistent with age, superb yellowing on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono and picked up oil from the body of the owner...

Superb 19th century netsuke of a multi-building palace / castle complex with trees, shrines and bridges with human figures, all on a minute scale. The bottom is carved with low relief landscape with scholar’s huts, a sail boat and distant mountains. Carved with supreme confidence and perfect precision, wonderful wear and patina. Viewed from the top, one of palaces exhibits a distinct cross on its roof - the netsuke may represent a hidden Christian reference...

Late 19th century small netsuke of an Okame mask with beautifully carved and etched features, wonderful smile. Very nice wear and warm patina, spots on her forehead are inlaid with dark horn, black and red ink highlights. Signed KOGETSU on the back bar - the artist is listed on p. 636 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 13/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of an acorn on a branch with leaves on top of a pile of chestnuts. Superbly executed elegant piece in Japanese taste, great naturalistic carving - see the carved crack in the skin of one chestnut, beautiful surface textures, himotoshi formed by a stem on the bottom. Excellent staining, wonderful mellow patina and beautiful wear consistent with age. Length 1 1/4 inches.

18th century netsuke of seated Jurojin (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, usually associated with longevity) leaning on one hand. Wonderful early carving of characteristic triangular section, smiling benevolent face, great fat earrings, beautifully etched textile patterns, some black and red highlights. Expert light staining, superb patina. Height 1 1/8 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke, its top carved in low relief with a seated boy wearing rich robe decorated with coin pattern and holding a butterfly net in his hand. Wonderful depiction of robe lines, elegantly incised textile decoration. Beautiful patina, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 1 1/4 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a shishi seated on a base, its head turned to the right and slightly up. Netsuke is carved out of kurogaki (black persimmon) with beautiful switch from black to golden brown grain. Great face with silver inlaid eyes, wonderful depiction of its body bulk and shaggy mane, superb rich patina. Himotoshi is formed by its legs. Signed TOKO TO (carved by Toko) on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...

19th century small netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) mobbed by four toads. For some unexplainable (probably prophetic) reason sennin’s face looks exactly like that of Vladimir Lenin, although the netsuke is a humorous take on Gama sennin”s popularity with amphibians. Wonderful carving with great quality of facial expression and nice detailing - see the warty backs of the toads. Himotoshi (cord opening) goes under the belt on the back, old age lines...

Early 19th century nice size netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a leaf cape, leaning on his staff with tied large double gourd resting on his shoulder. Most probably netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Strong early piece with exceptional carving of his intense face, wonderful detailing of his hair and leaf cape. Eyes inlaid in dark horn, netsuke of typical early triangular section...

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...

19th century mixed material netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is bronze with medium relief fierce dragon twisted around the Precious Gem. Wonderful quality metalwork - see its face, claws and crisply incised differentiated scales. Warm patina, beautiful fat bowl, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 2 1/16 inches.

19th century mixed material netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is mounted with a bronze or shakudo galloping horse, gilding to the eye and spots on its body, superb crisp work. Beautifully captured sense of motion, great patina, old age lines, swinging metal loop on the back for the cord, compressed dust on the surface. Length 1 3/8 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho ceramic netsuke of a chestnut. Bizen ware made in Okayama Prefecture - one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, characteristic fine brown clay. Wonderfully realistic depiction of the object, nice wear and patina, in excellent condition. Height 1 1/16 inches.