19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with bronze top depicting a not-so-repentant oni with a Buddhist gong striker in one hand and a votive plaque in the other as it prostrates himself to serve as a stepping stool for a beautiful maiden who is trying to reach a branch of flowering wisteria. A subtle shunga piece alluding to a good intention and a worldly temptation ruining the attempt. Excellent quality work with copper inlays and gilding. Old turned bowl with one stabilized crack...

Late 19th century boxwood netsuke of a catfish doing a bit of an acrobatic exercise. Catfish (Namazu) is believed to cause earthquakes, so this one looks to me at about 6.9 on Richter scale. Excellent quality carving, great face with finely carved numerous teeth, wonderful attention to details such as fin and tail textures, beautiful patina. Signed SHUNZAN on the belly - the artist is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 529, number 2618). Height 1 3/4 inches.

Very unusual largeJapanese rope embroidery on silk, the image is a pair of phoenixes, male and female, with the moon waxing and waning (full and crest). This is a privileged image made specially for the court. The pagoda shrine is central to the image centered around the imperial Tokugawa crest symbolizing the divine rule from heaven.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40" W x 62 1/4" H (entire frame), 36 1/2" W x 58 1/2" H (embroidery without frame)

1920's Japanese Jungin Silver Repousse Bag Shaped Vase with Flowers Konoike zo (of Yokohama)

It is 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall by 4.25 inches (11 cm) wide. It is 201.8 gram.

It has tarnished silver and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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Meiji (1868-1912) Japanese Shofu Katei Studio Moriage Porcelain Vase with Mt. Fuji

It is 9.25 inches (23.4 cm) tall by 5.5 inches (13.9 cm) wide. It is 2.25 Lb.

It has manufacture defect of dark spots at the inside and inner rim and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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Tall late 18th to early 19th century wooden netsuke of a standing emaciated sennin wearing a tattered robe and leaf skirt and cape and holding onto a very long staff with gnarled top. Awesome face, wonderful knobby scull, beautiful rendition of his hair, ribs and limbs. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - gold lacquer over red, so as the netsuke wears the color of a lower layer starts showing. Very beautifully done himotoshi on the back, superb wear and patina, very impressive sculpture...

Massive Meiji period Japanese Satsuma globular form tripod jar or “koro” (incense burner) in the form of a gathered pouch (Daikoku's bag), the bulbous body elaborately decorated in overglaze enamels and gilt highlights with “karako” (Chinese children) and other figures engaged in various leisure and scholarly activities in a garden setting. Late 19th century. 17” high x 16 1/2" diameter. Good overall condition with some typical rubbing of the enamels and gilt...

18th century netsuke of a seated mother monkey patiently suffering the indignity of her young grabbing her ear as it climbs onto her head. Fantastic expression of existential contemplation on her face, excellent incised and etched coat, beautiful wear. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, superb honey colored patina. Height 2 inches.

Cup Height: 6 cm (2.4 in)
Width Including Handle: 9 cm (3.6 in)
Saucer Width: 14.2 cm (5.7 in)

Japanese Satsuma cup and saucer; fine gilt panels with figures; intricate diaper work throughout; very good condition

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with wooden bowl and metal top depicting a not-so-repentant oni with a Buddhist gong on its chest and a striker in its hand as he follows a beautiful maiden who holds a branch of flowering wisteria in her hand. A subtle shunga piece alluding to a good intention and a worldly temptation ruining the attempt. Excellent quality work with copper, silver and gold inlays, in great condition...

Japanese Paulownia or Kiri wood small Tea, Cha Tansu, Ca. Meiji period, late 1890-1900, 24 1/2" high, 24" wide, 12" deep, 2 sliding doors on top inlaid with Mother of Pearl Plum flowers with low relief Lacquered tree branches above 3 small drawers, one large drawer above 2 drawers in lower section, black iron mounted around corners, leaf design on handles. The condition is as used condition directly imported from Japan, no restoration work was done on this small Cha Tansu.

Japanese Imari Porcelain Barber Bowl, or Shaving bowl, Ca. Edo period, between late 1700's to early 1800's, 10 5/8" diameter-top rim, 2 5/8" high, typical Imari color of underglaze blue between three(3) cartouche of Japanese garden fence scene decoration around wide rim in overglaze iron red, blue urn filled with bouquet of flowers in the entire center, some of the iron red enamel is worn in the middle caused by many years of usage. Gold highlights on the leaves on the wide rim is somewhat worn...

This rare Edo period (江戸時代 1603~ 1868) silk covered accordian-fold book is hand painted on rice paper. The title and artist's seal appear on the cover. It is 9 5/8" long, 7 1/4" wide and 1" thick. The opening pages (both verso and recto) from either direction are blank, gold flaked rice paper; the end pages (bother verso and recto) are plain rice paper. The book contains 12 paintings, 6 paintings on each side...

It was carved by a late Meiji period (1868~1911) artist Tozan (東山). It depicts a smiling wood cutter taking a break and tying his straw sandal lace. A sparrow is resting on his straw hat. It is 6 1/5" high, 3 7/16" wide (from the bottom) and 3" thick (from the bottom). Aside from two hair line cracks; one on his back head and one on the bottom, it is in great condition.

Antique Japanese kesa, Buddhist monk's traditional outer garment. Made from rich fragments of silk donated by wealthy devotees, kesa are traditionally made of square and rectangular swatches of material symbolizing the Buddha's patchwork garments. In contrast with this idea is the material itself, made of fine woven silks...

19th century wooden netsuke of sitting Okame snickering as she fondles a long stem of a mushroom in her hand. The netsuke is definitely of shunga type with not so subtle sexual connotation. Wonderfully carved (see her endearingly ugly face, hair arrangement and flowing lines of her kimono), beautiful patina, little nicks here and there. Height 1 13/16 inches.

A good quality Japanese vase and cover decorated with scrolling Octopus-vine patterns almost entirely covering the body of the vase and cover...

A bag made of deer skin with indigo dye hemp rope. It was used for coins which were distributed among citizens in Edo period. Paper moneys were issued later, in Meiji period (1868~1912). The first half of the 19th century. 26cm x 62cm

Japanese bronze incenser in the form of Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. Hotei is clothed with open robes, holding a gunbai fan, seated on top of his large sack. Hotei's name literally means "Cloth Sack", for he can be attributed by the large cloth sack he carries with him during his travels. He is also known as the Laughing Buddha due to his carefree happy nature despite being a wanderer with few material possessions.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions:...

This is a very rare and wonderful Japanese Cloisonne box. There are a wide variety of enamel colors and designs making this a very unique piece. The designs, mottled and translucent enamel colors strongly suggest that Honda is the artist. The rims are also Bronze and appear to have never been silver plated. Condition is excellent. There is minor scuffing to the bottom corners. The box measures 5 1/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches and is 2 1/4 tall

Antique Japanese choba tansu made of solid quartered sawn keyaki (zalkova) wood with burl wood front. The upper portion of the tansu has a large full-width drawer and another full-width drawer on the bottom. The right hand side has three small exterior drawers. The middle section has sliding panels with unusually fine vertical slats. The interior has 3 small drawers in a vertical row. All original lacquer finish and iron hardware including square drawer pulls and elaborately cut out lock pl...

Height: 3.5 cm (1.3 in)
Width: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Depth: 3.7 cm (1.6 in)

Fine example of the work of Gyokkei; a stone lifter, masseur or a man attempting to lift his distended scrotum?; a tumour is also present on the back of his head; the poor fellow also has a wall-eye; signed on an inlaid tablet; good condition

Very unusual and rare early 19th century Japanese cloisonne plate with flowers in the center surrounded by a border of stylized clouds in cavetto and 3 dragons chasing each other along the wide rim, flower design on the bottom and 3 scrolled feet. Superbly made in creative imitation of Chinese Ming Dynasty cloisonne (see the mischievous faces of the dragons), very rich visually, all metal wires and surfaces including feet were gilded (expected wear), beautiful enameling, some original pitting to...

19th century Japanese wooden nyoi - a Buddhist scepter - with scrolling finial. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Dense fruitwood with beautiful texture, simple elegant carving, wonderful patina to the surface from being handled, old ink spots in places, very pleasant to the touch. Great subtle piece for scholar’s table, or a practicing Buddhist. Length 12 1/4 inches.

1890s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese inkstone in simple rectangular shape with carved keyfret border and central grinding area. Used for grinding of an inkstick on the surface of the stone. Akama stone of shiunseki type with characteristic reddish brown color - Akama inkstones are quite famous, and come from the Yamaguchi Prefecture. Beautiful patina, traces of ink on the grinding surface, comes with fitted wooden cover. Very nice object for scholars table, in excellent condition. ...

18th century netsuke of a seated skinny dog wearing a collar with bell and resting one front paw on a cloth ball. Strong early piece, beautifully carved - great face with horn inlaid eyes, wonderful rendition of its spine and ribs, superbly carved paws, netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, beautiful wear and patina (some irregularities on the surface on the darker colored part of its back), old age lines. Signed MASAYOSHI on the bottom - this rare artist is listed in NETSUK...

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. Fruitwood body, some darkening to the back, very...

19th century staghorn netsuke carved as a cluster of all 7 masks of shichifukujin - Seven Gods of Good Fortune: Ebisu - god of fishermen and merchants, Daikoku - god of wealth, commerce and trade, Bishamonten - god of warriors, Benten - goddess of knowledge, art and beauty, Fukurokuju - god of happiness, wealth and longevity, Hotei - the fat and happy god of abundance and good health, and Jurojin - god of wisdom. Essentially the netsuke is a wish for good luck and serves as a talisman as well. D...

19th century ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a theatrical mask of an oni - a mischievous demon. Cleverly carved in ittobori (one-cut) style characteristic of Hida school, wonderful depiction of its bushy eyebrows and toothy grin. Wonderful patina and beautiful sheen to the surface. Signed SUKEYOSHI on the back bar - the artist is listed on p. 1051 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, and was a student of Sukenaga. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century kokutan (ebony) netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Hannya. Wonderful crisp detailing, beautiful lustrous patina from wear. Height 1 15/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century metal and wood netsuke of giboshi - a bridge post finial. Beautiful simple object in Japanese taste, perfectly elegant, in excellent condition. Rare subject, beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 9/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century wooden netsuke carved as a head of a dragon with a Precious Gem in its mouth. Boldly carved, strong features of the creature’s face, nice wear and patina. Length 3 inches.

Very unusual 19th century square manju netsuke made out of a slab of aventurine glass with silver fitting on the back in a shape of a samurai family crest with paulownia flowers and leaves, swinging silver loop for hanging. Superbly beautiful and rare material, absolutely stunningly sparkling in direct sunlight, does not photograph well. Three tiny chips along the edges on the front and a couple on the back, do not take away from the piece. Beautiful patina, very pleasant to hold. 1 7/16 inches ...

Early 19th century bronze netsuke in a form of a temple bell of Miidera. For the legend of Benkei carrying the bell of Miidera see H. Joly LEGEND IN JAPANESE ART, p. 82. Pleasant piece in Japanese taste with nice casting, beautiful wear and patina. Very good piece for collection of various netsuke materials or for scholar’s desk. Height 1 1/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in classic bowl shape with cast decoration on the outside of 2 birds by bamboo stalks with leaves. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape, hanged by a bronze ring. Nice old piece with pleasant patina on metal, the inside of the still containing ash residue. Diameter 1 5/8 inches.

Height: 4.1 cm (1.7 in)
Width: 3.8 cm (1.4 in)
Depth: 2 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese netsuke of a Hotei with one hand in his bag; natural material; early angular form; very good patina; good condition