19th century Japanese bronze tea ceremony hibashi (long metal chopsticks for handling charcoal in hibachi brazier) with finials in a form of heads of the Fungus of Immortality. These hibashi are for use in the summer time (winter ones have top half covered in wood). Finely made of bronze with high copper contents, beautiful casting and chiseling of the fungus, embossed areas at the working end for better handling of charcoals. Superb patina, beautiful wear, pleasantly heavy. Length 11 inches.

Japanese tall Kiri wood Hibachi, low relief Lacquered Bird on Grape vine, Ca. late Meiji period, 1910's, 11 1/4" high, 5 1/2" wide-widest part, 4 1/2" x 5" wide-top rim, the condition is good.

Late Meiji wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Namanari. The mask is mostly used in the play The Cursed Metal Head-Ring for the role of the wife who is crazed with jealosy beyond any possibility of redemption. Uncommon image, excellent mad facial expression. Cleverly carved out os soft evergreen wood in ittobori (one-cut) style characteristic of Hida school, colors and gold lacquer highlights, beautiful patina. Signed KYUNADA in ink on the back. Height 1 7/8 inches.

Late 19th century boxwood netsuke of Daikoku standing on 3 rice bales, a mallet in one hand, a bag slung over his shoulder. Daikoku is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of Wealth, rice bales being the representation of it. Nice piece, wonderful smiling face, good detailing, pleasant patina. The part of the bag protruding from his left hand is reattached. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) in a form of a running boar. Wonderful dynamic design, great crisp detailing, gilded eye. Comes with original backing with design of a stone on it. Length with backing 1 9/16 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in a modified hexagonal drum shape, its outside cast with a sinuous water dragon chasing a Precious Gem. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape. Nice old piece with very pleasant patina on metal. Maximum diameter 1 3/4 inches.

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting a barrel maker working on a large barrel. Wonderful design with dynamic posture, superb crisp detailing, comes with original backing. Signed RYUMIN on a gilded strip hanging off a nearby tree. For information on this pupil of Tenmin see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 895. Length 1 11/16 inches

19th century bronze ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with relief decoration of several peony flowers. Wonderful work, traces of gilding, nice feel of age, pleasant patina. Height 9/16 inches.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of obihasami type carved with a couple of bamboo stals. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Simple clever piece typical of Asakusa school, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Length 4.14 inches.

19th century Japanese carved wood obidome (sash ornament) in a shape of a theatrical mask of demon Hannya. Could have been used as netsuke as well. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, and is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions. Good design, nice detailing, eyes highlighted with gold lacquer. Height 1.8 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...

19th century netsuke in kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) shape, the top carved with phoenix (the symbol of the Empress) in flight - a motif often seen on textiles. Excellent delicate work, great depiction of differentiated feathers, eye inlaid with dark horn. Beautiful patina, compressed dust in crevices, nice old wooden bowl, old silk cord. Bowl diameter 1.74 inches.

19th century bronze netsuke in a shape of a double gourd. Nicely made, very pleasant brown patina, swinging loop around its waist for hanging. Fixed brass stopper to its neck. Length 2.21 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.

19th century netsuke in button form carved out of the coronet part of a deer antler. Strong early piece, nicely chunky, beautiful staining, warm patina, natural blemishes as is usual with staghorn, which make it so attractive. Wonderful tactile object. Average diameter 2.15 inches.

19th century Japanese ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved out of a fruit pit as a mother monkey eating a fruit with 3 babies loitering in her arms while a teenager climbed on her back and is eating a smaller fruit on her head. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, very nice carving with great level of detail, wonderful faces, pleasant mellow patina. Height 1 inch.

Late Meiji wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Hannya. Cleverly carved out os soft evergreen wood in ittobori (one-cut) style characteristic of Hida school, colors and gold lacquer highlights, beautiful patina. Height 1 13/16 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s -1912) wooden okimono of cloth doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in his monastic robe. The subject represents Daruma coming back from deep trance in which he sat meditating without moving for 9 years. Skillfully carved out of chosen matsu (Korean pine wood) in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic of Hida school of netsuke carvers with clever use of wood grain as element of design. Excellently conveyed facial expression, beautiful patina...