19th century small lacquer netsuke carved in a shape of mokugye - a Buddhist gong with 2 dragons contesting a Precious Gem in their mouths. Carved out of a slab of lacquer, which was made of differently colored layers, thus giving the finished piece rich play of colors. Beautiful patina, signed with a single character MITSU. Height 0.96 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape with blue and white starburst pattern. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Height 0.86 0. Inches

Length: 3.8 cm (1.7 in)
Height: 2.3 cm (0.9 in)
Depth: 2.6 cm (1 in)

Fine Japanese carved netsuke of a rat gnawing on his tail; natural material; honey-coloured patina; two age lines present; excellent hair work and inlaid horn eyes; signed with the mark Kaigyoku

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in seed shape with sunken relief carving of a cucumber and an eggplant. Excellent design in Japanese taste, green and brown stained vegetables, natural imperfections in staghorn, great patina. Height 5/8 inches.

19th century 2-toned ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a seated chubby puppy. Netsuke is skillfully carved in characteristic Hida school ittobori (one cut) style with clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece. Wonderful face with surprised expression, eyes are inlaid with black horn, wonderful mellow patina. Signed SUKENORI on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1048...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes holding a heavy axe in his hands, and with a large sword in dragon scabbard 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. Very good detailed carving, wonderful face with expression of tense concentration, beautiful staining, excellent wear and patina...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of three auspicious objects - a fan, a coin and a magatama. Strong piece in Japanese taste typical of Asakusa school, beautiful dark staining, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Length 1.62 inches.

1910s (late Meiji to early Taisho) Japanese wooden netsuke carved as a bean pod, its stem forming himotoshi (cord opening. Judging by the material ichii (Japanese yew wood) and clean realistic treatment of the subject, the netsuke was carved by a Hida school carver. Beautifully done, clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece, wonderful patina. Simple elegant piece in Japanese taste. Length 2.21 inches.

Early 19th century staghorn netsuke of a a group of seashells, including a clam, an abalone and a turrid. Good design utilizing natural properties of the material, nicely carved, superb wear and patina from 200 years of use. Length 1.59 inches.

A Japanese extraordinary polychrome ivory netsuke depicting a lively monkey. The monkey is shown holding a giant peach branch with its right hand, with a strong expression of satisfaction on its face. With its other hand, it scratches its back, adding a touch of realism to the scene. Himotoshi holes under the belly. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 3 x 4 x 4 cm. State of preservation: Very good

A Japanese excellent ivory netsuke depicting a group of three mushrooms. The green patina is of excellent quality with finely engraved and crafted lamellae. Every detail has been carefully taken care of, from the shape of the cap to the roots at the base. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 2 x 6 x 4,7 cm. State of preservation: Very good

A Japanese soft and valuable boxwood netsuke depicting a young naked woman kneeling with towel and bucket in the onsen bath 温泉, the Japanese “thermal baths”. Finely sculpted with an excellent patina and soft touch. Himotoshi (holes that allow thread to pass through) large and small on the back. The Japanese consider “communion in nakedness” important as it is capable of breaking down barriers and introducing new people in the relaxed and familiar atmosphere of the onsen. ...

A Japanese large and unusual boxwood netsuke depicting a child playing the drum with his hands, held still with his feet. He wears a Shishi mask with articulated jaw that opens and shows the child’s face. It was worn during the famous shishimai festival 獅子舞 (lion dance), a sacred animal in Japanese mythology. It symbolizes courage and strength; also called Karashishi, it is a lucky symbol and auspicious wealth. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4,3 x 3,8 ...

Height: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 2.7 cm (1.1 in)
Depth: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)

Quality Japanese netsuke, carved from natural material to depict a man sharpening a tool; finely detailed throughout; inlaid horn eyes; signed on the base, Masakazu; light honey-coloured patina; good condition

19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape made to imitate layered agate stone. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Length 1.18 Inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with yellow, red, blue and white herringbone pattern. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.76 Inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with yellow body and red/white/black “eyes”. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.75 Inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in flattened ball shape with continuous flower decoration in yellow and green. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.8 Inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape with multicolored spiral lines around the body. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.75 Inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape with blue body, red/white stripes and white circles. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Height 0.66 Inches.

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke, the top being Chinese carving adopted as netsuke, with scene of 5 scholars among various trees and pavilions. Excellent quality work with deep undercarving, beautiful wear and patina, in great condition, dark hardwood bowl with old natural stable lines, peg at the back for the cord. Bowl diameter 1.76 inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) bone obidome (sash ornament) carved as a pair of swimming carp. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2.95 inches.

A Japanese wood netsuke depicting a group of mushrooms with a caterpillar on the dome of the highest. Himotoshi is under the base. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,5 x 3,8 x 3,7 cm. Condition report: Good condition

A Japanese boxwood netsuke of a coiled snake around a lotus. The pistils are completely articulated pistils. The himotoshi is formed by the stem of the lotus. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 5 x 3,5 x 3,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Very unusual 19th century Asakusa school Japanese staghorn kanzashi - a hair pin - carved on one end as a lotus with folded leaf, stems and a bud. Superbly clever piece, excellent execution, probably carved by Kokusai himself - this superb and original carver, the founder of Asakusa school of netsuke carving is listed on p. 648 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

18th century boxwood netsuke of minogame (turtle with dragon head and bushy tail, usually associated with longevity) sitting on water lily leaf. Strong early carving, great detailing of the turtle, its carapace, tail and head. Length 2.1 inches.

19th century wooden sashi netsuke made out of natural length of root wood. Elegant simple piece in Japanese taste, himotoshi by the top for hanging, extraordinary beautiful patina, great feel of age, excellent piece for a scholar’s desk. Length 6.25 inches.

Unusual late Taisho (1920s) netsuke of kagamibuta (mirror lid) type with wooden bowl, rotating himotoshi peg and cloisonné top decorated with numerous flowers. Very well made, beautiful enamel colors, in superb condition. Bowl diameter 1.72 inches.

Unusual 19th century lacquer ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of seed shape with faceted surface showing variously colored layers of lacquer from which the piece was built. Wonderful design piece, metal liner, in great condition. Height 0.67 inches.

19th century cypress wood small okimono representing standing Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in his monastic robe dramatically billowing in the wind. The sculpture is skillfully carved out of Japanese cypress branch in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic of Hida Province with clever use of natural wood shape, structure and texture as elements of design. Excellently conveyed expression of extreme concentration on Daruma’s face, beautiful patina...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju shape with openwork carving of a winged water dragon in flight among clouds. Superb design and excellent quality sharp carving, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Loss to the part of the inner ring (not visible when manju is put together, photo #5, lower right image) not affecting integrity of the piece. Diameter 1.6 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of the old man Okina with its typical smiling expression. Actual size masks are used in Sambaso dance. Wonderfully captured facial expression, good representation of its hanging lower jaw, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece...

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of smiling Okame. Wonderfully captured facial expression, cleverly exaggerated cheeks sticking out, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece. Signed SUKEZUMI on the back - the artist must have been a Hida school carver and worked on netsuke as well. Height 5 inches.

19th century Asakusa school stag antler netsuke of a seated tanuki (badger) with its enormous belly, an inscribed sake bottle in one paw, an accounting book in the other. In Japanese folklore tanuki is a notorious trickster: it drums with his paws on its large belly (tanuki no hara tsuzumi), imitating the sounding of gongs in temples and inns, and leading tired travelers astray in the darkness. Judging by the book in its paw, this time tanuki acts as a sake vendor...

Very unusual 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of eagle talons clutching a tama (Precious Gem). Beautifully carved out of dark dense wood (probably kurogaki - black persimmon), gold lacquer highlights to the folds of the talons, tama is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1.7 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) wooden netsuke of a bamboo shoot. Excellent realistic carving utilizing texture and natural growth lines of the material (ichii - Japanese yew wood) to represent the texture of the leaves. Wonderful sense of volume, very pleasant to hold. Cursively inscribed by himotoshi - may be a signature or a rendition of Japanese character TAKE (bamboo). Height 2.67 inches.