19th century netsuke of a karako (Chinese boy) with a flower in his hand standing by a tall floor screen decorated with a dragon in flight among clouds. Very nice carving, beautiful light staining, pleasant wear and patina. Tiny old chip to rim on the top of the screen. Formerly in Mary Louise O’Brien collection (Sotheby’s NY, September 17, 1981, lot 153. Height 1 3/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with multimetal top and wooden bowl. The top is inlaid with an actor wearing a mask and holding an open fan in his hand seated next to an assembly of stacked shallow boxes. Superb quality work with silver and gold inlays, excellent depiction of different designs on his robe and boxes, in great condition. The box is made of shakudo (an alloy of copper and gold) with its characteristic black patina resembling lacquer)...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a crouching puppy about to pounce. Strong early piece with unusual posture, excellently captured facial expression and chunkiness of a young pup, wonderful hairwork. Eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age line along its back, superb wear and patina. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta netsuke with iron lid inlaid with multimetal old torn fan and iron tetsubin (tea kettle) in a shape of a pig, its handle of twisted gold wire, and 2 drum strikers incised on the plate. Elegant design in Japanese taste, crisp work, beautiful patina on the lid and the bowl. Metal swinging loop on the back for hanging. Recently deaccessioned from the Framingham History Center, Massachusetts, where it has been part of the collection since 1923...

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 netsuke depicting Ashinaga seated next to a basket, his absurdly long legs raising higher than his head, wearing a skirt, a short 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, wonderful smiling face, buttons are inlaid with horn, pleasant wear and patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a blind masseur working on a client who appears to be a scholar wearing glasses and leering as he looks through a shunga (erotic book) edition. Wonderful carving with great faces, beautiful textile lines, rich warm patina. Signed HOMIN on the bottom - for information on this pupil of Meikeisai Hojitsu see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 487. Height 1 3/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a theatrical mask of O-Beshimi skillfully carved in characteristic ittobori (one cut) style typical for the Hida school. Pupils are inlaid in brass, golden paing highlights, excellent rendition of facial expression, wonderful mellow patina. Signed RYOSEI (alternative reading is Ryusho) on the back. Height 2 inches.

19th century netsuke carved out of kurumi (natural walnut shell) with a reserve on the front showing a face of a tengu hatching from an egg. Tengu are mythological: creatures half men, half birds, they are usually depicted as goblins and are considered to be first-class fighters. Nice carving, black and red highlights. Fantastic deep warm brown patina, signed NIKO by himotoshi - this rare artist who seems to have specialized in using walnuts is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p...

18th century netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a monk’s robe and a leaf cape and skirt, looking to his left and supporting a double gourd on his shoulders. Netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted...

18th century netsuke of a reclining monkey, its front paws and upper body resting on a large chestnut. Very strong early piece, great thoughtful face, excellent incised and etched hair, wonderful detailing of its fingers and toes. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, warm yellow patina (darker on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono), large and deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Length 1 15/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of a bamboo shoot containing a hollow section with anabori (cavern carving) of the Seven Sages of the bamboo grove looking at an open scroll. (see the detail on the first photo), The inside is almost impossible to photograph, but all the sages are there, need a flashlight even to see them. Very clever joke on the usual depiction of the sages being placed among bamboo stalks, not inside them...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a man with a horn on his head, bent under the weight of a richly dressed woman on his back. The subject of the netsuke is Ikkaku Sennin (single horn Sage) carrying princess Sendarama on his back - according to Japanese legend, he grew angry with the Rain Dragons and sealed them away in a cave, causing a drought. Beautiful Indian princess was sent to tempt him and when he could not hold on to his chastity vow, he lost his magical powers, and the rain returned...

19th century wooden netsuke of a slightly inebriated dancer with a fan in his hand. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red (or golden brown) lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. Beautifully carved drunken facial expression, really nice feel of age to the piece, very pleasantly worn. Height 2 inches.

18th century netsuke of a dog with its front paws on a large ball, all on a flat base. Strong early piece, wonderful face, beautiful wear and patina, a lot of compressed dust in crevices, of characteristic 18th century triangular section, old age lines. Height 1 7/16 inches.

Asa (hemp) noren (shop curtain) with "Mitsui" which is a logo of a noted general trading company and was a successful kimono textile dealer in Edo period. Both warp and weft are hand-plied and all hand-sewn. In good condition and has some wear on the selvedge from heavy use and washing. Late 19th early 20th century. W:144cm, L:132cm

A fine bronze brush pot decorated with the Rakan Handaka Sonja holding the begging bowl in gilt takazogan, in a combination of high relief and incised landscape with banana leaves and flowers. Gilt top rim. Incised signature on the Kyoto Kumagai zo (made by Kumagai). H. 9,5 x D 6,5 cm. Meiji period (1868-1912) . Very good condition.

18th century netsuke of a reclining sarumawashi - traveling monkey showman - obliviously smiling in his sleep while his pet steals from a basket behind the back of its trainer. Unusually substantial and heavy, excellent carving capturing facial expressions of both characters. Classic design, differently sized deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, netsuke of triangular section characteristic for the period, old age lines...