19th century netsuke of a bronze fly on a boxwood pumpkin. Elegant clever design in Japanese taste, wonderfully rendered texture of the pumpkin skin, himotoshi (cord opening) is formed by the stem, great patina. Diameter 1.31 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...

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...

19th century netsuke of carved as a cluster of 3 branches of natural fungus, seal with deer finial and double gourd with stopper and its lower end containing carved village scene. Excellent and elegant work with clever use of anabori (cavern) carving technique, wonderful mellow patina. Signed GYOKUHO on the back - the artist is very well known for that kind of work and is discussed on p. 424 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 1/2 inches.

19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with black body and numerous multicolored flower shaped inlays . Beautiful surface, very pleasant patina. Diameter 5/8 inches.

19th century boxwood netsuke of a turtle with its young perched on its back. Very good carving, beautiful rhythm to the plastrons of their carapaces, wonderful depiction of leathery skin texture, excellent wear and patina. Length 1 11/16 inches.

Height: 4.7 cm (1.9 in)
Width: 4 cm (1.6 in)
Depth: 4.4 cm (1.8 in)

Fine wooden netsuke of a man sitting with a turtle between his feet; he is busy tying up the animal; quality carving throughout; good condition

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.

Unusual 19th century Japanese bronze scroll weight in a shape of a crouching toad. Very nice work, wonderful rendition of its warty back, eyes are lacquered in gold and black giving it lifelike quality. Appropriately heavy as a scroll weight, beautiful patina. Length 2.67 inches.

19th century ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as a seated monkey performing “speak no evil” routine. Nice work, pleasant patina, no chips or repairs, dust on the surface. Height 3/4 inches.

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...

Very unusual 19th century mixed metal and wood netsuke of a boy quietly playing a reed flute while leaning against a side of a resting buffalo, 2 baskets next to him. The subject is ushidoji (also called bokudo) symbolizing the perfect peace of mind, and is considered to be one of the stages on the way to the Buddhahood. Excellent quality metalwork of shakudo (buffalo), solid silver (boy) and copper (baskets), perfectly captured mood of the scene...

19th century netsuke carved as a cluster of eight theatrical masks, those of Okina, Hannya, Hyottoko, Bishamon, Oni, Ikkaku Sennin, Okame and O-Tobide. Excellent faces, very pleasant feel to the surface, compressed dust in crevices. Signed ISSAI on a plaque on the back that serves as himotoshi - for information on this rare artist see p. 517 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Excellent detailed carving, wonderful work by the master carver...

19th century good size boxwood netsuke of a bamboo shoot with a hollow section in the lower half with anabori (cavern carving) of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove assembled around a Go board. There are 7 faces inside, impossible to photograph, but can be seen with a flashlight. Beautiful carving, superb patina, extremely pleasant feel of age. Signed YOSHIKIYO SAKU (made by Yoshikiyo) on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...

19th century Japanese Asakusa school staghorn kiseruzutsu - tobacco pipe case - carved with a scholarly landscape with a temple among hills and rocks by a pine tree, and a village in the distance. Clever carving incorporating porous texture of its center as element of design, nicely chunky. Beautiful wear and patina, in great condition. Length 8 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 representing a Noh theater mask of an oni (mischievous demon). Excellent quality carving, wonderful face with a hint of malice, beautiful stippling indicating hair of its eyebrows and chip, superb wear and patina. Height 1 3/4 inches.

19th century netsuke of poet Hitomaro wearing his official coat and ritual hat, leaning on a low table thoughtfully contemplating the world as if seeking inspiration for one of his poems. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a famous poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka Period (7th/8th centuries), and is considered one of the Thirty Six Poetry Immortals of Japan. Wonderful carving with great intense face, excellent staining, wear and patina. Signed RYOKOSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...