19th century ivory netsuke of a seated street musician - a percussionist - restringing his hand drum and with a pair of cymbals next to him. Very unusual (probably unique) subject, wonderful facial expression, delicately carved rope in excellent condition (no losses to such a fragile structure), beautiful wear and patina, compressed dust on the surface. Signed HODO on the cymbals. Height 1 7/16 inches.
Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing a Noh theater mask of Akujo. Crisp detailing (see the indentations on his eyebrows, by the mouth and on the chin that are used on real mask for inserting hair), slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, white enamel highlights, the lower jaw is tied with a string so it can move, in excellent condition. Impressed with seal SEKISEN on the back - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 177, signature 264. Height 1 13 ...click for details
Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing a Noh theater mask of Demon Hannya. Crisp detailing, slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, white enamel highlights, in excellent condition. Impressed with seal SEKISEN on the back - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 177, signature 264. Height 2 inches.
Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing a theater mask of Hyottoko (perplexed peasant). Crisp detailing, slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, white enamel highlights, in excellent condition. Impressed with seal SEKISEN on the back - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 177, signature 264. Height 1 7/8 inches.
19th century boxwood netsuke of Roshi (Lao Tse) - the founder of Taoism - holding a huge pile of peony flowers in his lap while seated on the back of an ox. Unusual subject, excellent quality carving, wonderful depiction of Roshi’s face with a slight smile, exceptional carving of the animal’s body bulk. Beautiful wear and patina. Almost identical netsuke is illustrated in Christie's catalog JAPANESE ART AND DESIGN INCLUDING THE EDWARD AND MARYLIN FLOWER COLLECTION OF NETSUKE AND INRO, PART I ...click for details
19th century agate netsuke simply carved in a shape of a peach. Beautiful stone with delicate white turning peach color, elegant design, wonderful patina, old smoothed chip on the back of the tip of the fruit. Great piece for a collection of netsuke materials. Height 1 15/16 inches.
19th century ivory netsuke of a boy resting his chest on a large clam and holding a fish by a short rope. Very good quality carving - see the face and nicely incised textile patterns. Signed TOMONOBU on the bottom - for information on this artist from the Tomochika school see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p.1158. Length 1 3/4 inches.
Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing a Noh theater mask of Jurojin - one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune. Crisp detailing, slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, overall in excellent condition. Impressed with seal ONKO on the back - the artist does not seem to be recorded, but is clearly a master potter. Height 1 5/8 inches.
Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing a Noh theater mask of Daikoku - one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune. Crisp detailing, slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, several scratched areas showing gray clay body. Impressed with seal ONKO on the back - the artist does not seem to be recorded, but is clearly a master potter. Height 1 5/16 inches.
19th century ivory netsuke of a standing Mongolian archer, a bow in his left hand, a very long arrow in the right and a quiver with shorter arrows behind his back. He is wearing a Tartar hat, his coat if finely engraved with lotus designs, excellent detailing of his face, bow and arrows. Extraordinary rich patina, deep differently sized himotoshi. Signed MASAHARU on the back - the artist is listed on p. 700 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Superb ...click for details
