Ivory netsuke of a Bactrian camel with its head turned back and head placed between its 2 humps. Rare netsuke subject, superb compact design, extraordinary carving made out of beautiful even ivory. Amazing tranquil face with double inlaid eyes (light and dark horn), excellent depiction of its body bulk. Signed on the back KOSEI and HIDEYUKI in seal form by one of the best 20th century carvers. For a lengthy discussion of this superb master see LIVING MASTERS OF NETSUKE by Miriam Kinsey, pp. 39-4 ...click for details
Ivory netsuke of a Manchurian mother crane with 2 chicks climbing onto her wing. Superb carving to the last detail with great faces, perfect delineation of different feather textures and leathery texture of mother’s legs. The eyes are double with light and dark brown horn. Excellent patina, in perfect condition. Signed KENYOSAI with round seal MISHU on the underside of the left wing - the artist is one of the best 20th century netsuke carvers. For discussion see CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE by Miriam Ki ...click for details
Japanese ivory okimono of a standing actor in a role of a shojo with a fan in his hand. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, and are particularly fond of sake. Superb quality carving with excellent face and minute detailing - see the fingernails, hair texture and textile patterns. Beautiful warm patina, details highlighted by paint and golden lacquer, in excellent condition. Signed SEIGETSU on inlaid cinnabar plaque on the bottom - the artist is listed in CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE by Mir ...click for details
Sotheby’s sale catalog JAPANESE WORKS OF ART PART II that took place in London on November 17th, 1994. 370 lots illustrated in black and white (303 lots of swords and fittings, 67 lots of netsuke and inro), in excellent condition, prices realized included.
Unusual old Chinese scholar’s buffalo horn brushrest in a form of a gnarled flowering prunus branch. Superb carving, extraordinary depiction of petals and stamens. Wonderful quality material - deep warm brown translucent horn with beautiful crazing. Overall in excellent condition, stunning piece for scholar's desk. Height 2 1/4 inches, length 6 7/8 inches.
Old Chinese scholar’s rock in a form of a turquoise chunk suggesting mountain of dramatic shape with crevices and caves. The stone provides several different views. Beautiful turquoise matrix of green and brown colors with very richly textured surface, nicely carved fitted hardwood stand. Wonderful object for contemplation on scholar’s table. Height with stand 3 1/4 inches, length 4 inches.
Unusual buffalo horn carving of a reclining one-horned chimera snarling with its mouth wide open. Does not photograph well. Wonderful carving with great face, mane, tail and powerful paws, in superb condition. Excellent quality amber colored translucent horn (see backlit photo), very beautiful finish. Wonderful object for scholar’s table. Length 1 11/16 inches.
Ivory netsuke carved as two lingzhi fungus, which represent the Fungus of Immortality. One of the best carved netsuke that I have ever had. Superb quality rendition of shape and texture of the fungus to the last detail, very pleasant to the touch. Fantastic coloring, himotoshi formed by a natural opening between the stems. Round dark spot on the underside of the larger fungus is the original plug of the nerve canal in the material, and is cleverly incorporated into the design. Signed RYOKUZAN in ...click for details
Ivory netsuke of Sennin Tobosaku showing off a peach of Immortality which he stole from Seiobo, the Chinese Queen of the Fairies, the Peach of Immortality ripening on a tree in her garden only once it 3 thousand years. Excellent carving, great smiling face, superb depiction of textile patterns and textures, great depiction of the weave of his boots. There is a nice detail for a netsuke lover - he is wearing an inro suspended by a kagamibuta netsuke. Beautiful patina on excellent even-grained ivo ...click for details
1993 sale catalog CONTEMPORARY NETSUKE: SELECTED OJIME AND RELATED ARTS by Michael Spindel, Inc. 43 carvers are represented, 226 items illustrated in color. Softcover, 11”x8.5”, 93 pages. Very good reference book.
