Late 19th century Japanese ceramic netsuke representing Bugaku theater mask of Nasori. Uncommon image, crisp detailing, eyes and teeth are highlighted with white enamel, slight darkening of protruding parts from wear, overall 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 5/8 inches.
19th century Nagoya school wooden netsuke of a seated mythical beast tenroku with its head raised and turned back. Very rare subject, like any dark object does not photograph well. The beast has the head of a goat / dragon with beard and one horn, body of a lion with characteristic star pattern on its coat, hooves of a goat and tufty camel like hump and mane along the spine. The creature is benevolent and is charged with punishing the evildoers. Superb face, wonderful depiction of its slender ne ...click for details
Early 19th century ivory netsuke of an ama - abalone diver girl - wearing a straw skirt and resting on an enormous clam with her elbow on yet another clam. The netsuke is definitely of shunga type - see the very suggestive part of the clam just under her left arm. Superbly carved, fantastic face, beautiful texture to her hair and skirt. Wonderful patina consistent with age, great feel of age, all that a good netsuke should be. Length 1 3/8 inches.
19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju shape with openwork carving of samurai mon (feudal lords crests) - 4 on one side and 2 on the other among leaves and stylized clouds. The one representing a triangle inside a triangle is that of the Hojo family: I have not been able to identify the others. Superb design and excellent quality sharp carving, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Clever and charming piece. Diameter 1 1/2 inches.
19th century ivory netsuke of a kneeling laborer grinding tea leaves in a mortar with a flattened disc grinder. Excellent carving - see the portrait quality face with a crooked smile and the muscles of his body. Beautiful even material, wonderful patina. Signed MITSUTOSHI (alternative reading is Koju) on the bottom - the artist is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 498, number 1547). Height 1 1/16 inches.
19th century metal and wood netsuke 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. Very nice sharp metalwork, wonderful dragon head on the top of the bell, beautiful patina. Height 1 5/8 inches.
19th century Chinese Yixing snuff bottle with enamel decoration on each side depicting different landscapes in scholarly taste with huts and bridges in the foreground and distant bays and mountains. Did not photograph well - photos came out too harsh. Well modelled, beautiful uninhibited painting with multiple colors. Excellent patina, expected dust and grime accumulation on the surface, wonderful feel of age. Later metal and glass stopper with metal spoon. Height with stopper 2 11/16 inches.
19th century Chinese ivory seal of square section with crisply carved sunken characters on the base and a flowering prunus branch on the top. Superb elegant carving, wonderful yellowish patina, old age lines, in great condition. Excellent object for scholar’s table with wonderful feel of age. Height of the seal 1 3/8 inches, base 9/16 inches long.
Late 19th century Chinese agate pendant of a monkey mother seated next to a large fruit while her young climbs onto her shoulder. Excellent quality carving, extremely clever use of differently colored agate layers - gray for the mother, black for young and fruit. Very pleasant finish, in excellent condition, opening for hanging under the young’s left wrist. Height 1 11/16 inches.
Late Qing Dynasty (1910s) Chinese rock crystal water dropper for diluting ink carved in a shape of an elongated fruit with Immortality Fungus and branches with leaves on the sides. Does not photograph well. Wonderful quality carving, beautiful rock crystal with natural inclusions, excellent finish, extremely pleasant to the touch. Length 2 3/4 inches.
