19th century ivory netsuke of a standing sumo wrestler wearing kesho-mawashi - a heavily embroidered apron - and looking straight up. Wonderful quality carving, well captured facial expressions, excellent depiction of his body bulk. Nicely incised textile patterns on the apron, beautiful yellow patina, deep himotoshi. Height 1 9/16 inches.
19th century Japanese bronze kanemono (tobacco pouch clasp) in a form of two sumo wrestler dolls and a fan. The fan is decorated with sun, moon and constellation designs. Elegant design, great crisp detailing, gilded and silvered highlights. Length 1 9/16 inches.
Good size 19th century ivory netsuke of a standing foreigner with a Chinese boy seated on his shoulder, and holding a long horn / flute in front of him. Superb piece to the last detail - excellent faces, extraordinary etching of the robe with a dragon among waves. Water drops of the cresting waves on the bottom of the robe are inlaid with ivory, man’s eyes and boy’s hair knots are dark horn. Superb wear, fantastic feel of age to the piece. Signed on the side of the robe MIURA KANJUKEN YOSHINAGA ...click for details
Good size 19th century ivory netsuke of a man standing with one foot raised and holding on his shoulder a lion mask with a long tufts patterned cloth for shishimai dance. Unusual composition, excellent sharp carving, great depiction of textile patterns, beautiful wear and patina. Height 3 5/16 inches (85 mm).
19th century lacquered wood and ivory netsuke of a merchant wearing a hat and a medium length jacket over his robe and holding a fan in his hand. Ivory head, hands and feet, well carved, very good quality lacquering with golden flecks, wonderful face with a slight frown. Pleasant patina, really nice feel of age to the piece. Signed MEISAI in golden lacquer on the lower part of the robe on the back. Height 2 1/8 inches.
19th ivory netsuke of two Tatebina - a male and female doll figures displayed during Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), which starts on the 3rd day of the 3rd month. Of standing, flattened form with intentionally simplified doll faces and superbly incised floral patterns on the robes, nice wear and patina. Signed HOICHI on the back - for information on this excellent carver from Hojitsu school see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 476. Height 1 3/16 i ...click for details
Early 19th century ivory netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a long robe and standing beside a horse that gently stretches its head towards its master. The person depicted is probably Sennin Gyokushisho, who is usually associated with a horse. Excellent early piece with superb detailing, beautiful flow to the robe of the sage and the neck of his companion, extraordinary amber-colored patina. Height 1 5/8 inches.
19th century ebony netsuke of a Buddha’s hand citron with stem and leaf. Like any dark object does not photograph well. Excellent quality elegant carving with perfectly captured shapes and textures, himotoshi formed by the stem of the fruit. Material and carving style suggest Iwami school. Signed YUHO on the bottom - the artist might have been a student of Goho. Beautiful and unusual piece. Length 2 inches.
Early 19th century ivory netsuke of a standing boy wearing nothing but a long sleeveless coat and covering his front with a theatrical mask of Okame. Shunga type netsuke, superbly carved - see his gentle face and neatly delineated hair, excellent patina turning honey color on the back, old age lines, great patina. Height 2 3/8 inches.
19th century ivory netsuke of a shojo (mythical creatures living near the sea who are well known drunks) capturing an oni (little mischievous demon) under a straw hat. Very rare, probably unique subject, excellent carving, fantastic facial expression, great rendition of shojo’s robe with various textile patterns. Beautiful light staining, wonderful wear and patina. Signed GYOKUSAI on the bottom - this excellent artist is listed on p. 427 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNAT ...click for details
