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

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...

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 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...

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...

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

Height: 3.5 cm (1.3 in)
Width: 2.8 cm (1.2 in)
Depth: 1.7 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese netsuke; probably whale tooth or walrus; depicts a Hotei with his bag; early angular form; very good honey-coloured patina; good condition

19th century netsuke of cut vegetables, tofu and rice cakes inside a wooden pan with handle. Superb elegant design in Japanese taste with perfectly captured mood of happy anticipation of a good meal, excellent carving, beautiful patina. Signed MITSUHIRO on the bottom of the pan. For a lengthy discussion of this first rate distinct artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, page 775. Clever and unusual object by the master carver...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with multimetal disc worked in low relief scene of a man drawing water from a well, his wooden bucket next to him. Excellent crisp work, wonderful face, gilding, inlaid copper bucket, great patina. Beautifully turned marine material (walrus tusk) bowl with excellent patina. Disc diameter 1 5/16 inches, bowl diameter 1 7/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century wooden netsuke of seated Hotei (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune and incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future) with wide smile and a fan in his hand. Strong carving with wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 3/16 inches.

18th century netsuke of a standing Dutchman wearing a wig, supporting a Chinese boy on his back with his left hand and holding a tasseled trumpet in his right, a shallow ruff at his neck. Superb quality carving - see the smiling face of the Dutchman with jutting chin and small mouth, his upper teeth showing, wonderful rhythm to the curls of the wig. Well balanced - stands on its own on flat surface...

Late 18th to early 19th century staghorn / bone Kyoto school netsuke of a seated shishi (Buddhist lion) hugging a large ball. Unusual material for the subject, strong early piece with beautiful wear and patina consistent with age, wonderful face, powerful oversized paws, eyes are inlaid with brown horn. Very nice hairwork (see its mane and bushy tail), old age lines, deep himotoshi going through the back down to the bottom. Wonderful sculpture. Height 1 11/16 inches.