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.

Unusual 19th century small iron and bronze ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in oval puck shape with two relief mushrooms on the front. Wonderful crisp detailing, the body of ojime is iron, mushrooms and the back are bronze, in excellent condition, pleasant patina. Signed on the back TERU in hiragana. Height 7/16 inches.

Netsuke - chestnut and a plump mushroom. Japan Edo 19th.

19th century staghorn Asakusa School netsuke carved as an old square coin on a coiled ribbon, which was traditionally used to hold coins together. Clever design, netsuke is essentially a wish for wealth, great quality carving. There are some natural lines in the material, but no cracks or repairs. Beautifully stained, superb mellow patina. Wonderful subtle piece in Japanese taste. Length 1 1/2 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a millstone dresser working on a millstone. Excellent carving with wonderful lifelike pensive face, beautiful wear and patina. Signed KISUI on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 624. Height 1 7/16 inches.

19th century staghorn netsuke of a salamander on a length of half rotten trunk with some leaves on the inside and bark on the outside. Unusual subject, excellent quality carving - see its face with horn inlaid eyes, smooth skin and well defined paws. Porous center of the carving as is the nature of staghorn, beautiful wear and patina, signed HEISHIN on the bottom. Length 2 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke of a boy holding onto a bamboo branch next to a large ball. Netsuke illustrates one of the paragons of filial virtue, that of Moso - a young scholar who went into the woods in the middle of the winter to look for bamboo shoots, a favorite dish of his ailing and dying mother. Bamboo does not grow in the snow but the Gods were moved by his filial piety and allowed bamboo shoots to suddenly spring from the ground. The large ball probably represents a snowball...

19th century netsuke depicting sitting Ashinaga (long legs) wearing 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, pleasant wear and patina turning honey color on the back where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono. Height 1 1/2 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with Shibayama inlay depicting Daikoku’s mallet surrounded by 9 tama (Precious Gems). The bowl is dark rosewood, the top is boxwood with carved loop on the back for the cord, materials used for inlay are black horn, silver, jadeite, pink coral and 3 different kinds of mother of pearl. The inlay is in perfect shape, no losses or repairs. Plain back, two parts fit nicely, beautiful mellow patina...

19th century wooden netsuke of a seated puppy. Wonderful piece with excellently captured facial expression and chunkiness of a young pup. Eyes are inlaid with bronze, rich dark hardwood, beautiful wear and patina. Tiny loss to 2 toes on its right hind foot, couple of nicks here and there. Height 1 5/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of a standing Chinese female Immortal holding a fan in one hand and a branch of the Fungus of Immortality in the other. Very nicely carved, great face, elaborate hair arrangement, polychrome decoration with expected wear, beautiful patina. Height 2 9/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a group of three eggplants: the larger one is ripe, its skin ruptured to show the flesh of the vegetable, and one of the smaller vegetables is hollowed and lacquered on the inside to be used as a sake cup. Cleverly designed, superb detailed carving - see the texture of the vegetable in the ruptured area, very pleasant wear consistent with age. Dark dense wood - ebony or kurogaki (black persimmon), extraorinary sheen to the surface...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a monkey seated with its head down and turned to its left, supporting a hude bamboo shoot on its shoulder. Excellent carving with clean lines, great thoughtful expression on its face. Large and deep himotoshi (cord opening) in accordance with the habit of the time. Overall beautiful mellow patina from wear. Very clever and charming piece. Height 1 9/16 inches.

Early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a seated shishi (Buddhist lion) hugging a large ball. Strong early piece, wonderful ferocious face, powerful oversized paws with beautifully defined claws, eyes are inlaid with brown horn, loose ball in its mouth. Excellent hairwork (see its mane and bushy tail), old age lines, deep differently sized himotoshi, beautiful wear and patina consistent with age, pleasantly fat, great sculpture. Height 1 5/8 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke carved as a theatrical mask of Okame with characteristic chubby cheeks. Great facial expression with a slight smile, excellent finish, beautiful wear and patina. Signed IKKO on the back bar - this remarkable artist is discussed on p. 512 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 13/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of a chubby seated puppy with one front paw on an abalone shell. Wonderful depiction of its fat body, playful face, great hairwork, eyes are inlaid with dark horn. Old age lines, himotoshi is formed by its left hind leg, beautiful patina turning honey color on the back where netsuke was touching silk of the kimono. Signed KYOGYOKU (alternative reading id Gyotama) on the bottom. Height 1 inch.

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.

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...

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. Back of netsuke has ...

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. Semicircle on the bottom that can be seen on the left of Enlargement 6 may look like a repair, but it is a...

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.

Late 19th century wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Ko-Omote - for information on this character representing young women see NETSUKE MASKS by Bushell, p. 103. Excellent crisp detailing, wonderful slight smile, beautiful warm patina. Height 2 1/2 inches.