Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (1214)

19th century small lacquer netsuke carved in a shape of mokugye - a Buddhist gong with 2 dragons contesting a Precious Gem in their mouths. Carved out of a slab of lacquer, which was made of differently colored layers, thus giving the finished piece rich play of colors. Beautiful patina, signed with a single character MITSU. Height 0.96 inches.

Late Taisho - early Showa (1920s) small Japanese 2-toned chosen matsu (Korean pine wood) okimono of a floating mandarin duck. Perfectly captured essence of the bird, excellent sense of volume, skillfully carved in characteristic style of Hida school with clever use of wood colors and structure to add to the charm of the piece. Eyes inlaid in dark horn, superb patina. Signed SHOO on the bottom. Length 2 1/4 inches.

Rather unusual late Taisho - early Showa (1920s) Japanese boxwood scoop for loose tea, its handle carved as the head of angry Daruma, Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. Beautifully carved, nice patina, signed on the front with 3 characters that appear to read CHUKOBI. It is very unusual to see signed tea scoop. Length 3 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with lacquer decoration of berries and flowers, design continuing on the back. Very well made, excellent expert multicolored lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, in great condition without any losses. Length 4.19 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with lacquer decoration of arrows with different tail feather patterns, design continuing on the back. Very well made, excellent expert multicolored lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, in great condition without any losses. Length 4.3 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Pair of late 18th to early 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting magpies in different attitudes jumping around gnarled branches and waves by woven rattan containers with stones - such bundles were used for shoring riverbanks during floods. Elegant design, bronze with gilding and silver inlays, overall in great condition. Length 1.57 inches.

Pair of 18th to early 19th century Japanese sword menuki each depicting a sitting spotted usagi (rabbit) with its ears spread widely to the sides. Great design with somehow funny faces. Bronze with black, copper and silver patinas. Overall in great condition for two hundred years old pieces. Length 1.28 inches.

Early 19th century Edo period Japanese sword bronze kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with raised decoration of various sea shells, all on finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Wonderful design in Japanese taste, beautifully made piece, obvious age wear. Length 1.34 inches.

18th to early 19th century Japanese sword fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) with gilded relief design of playful shishi (Buddhist lion), all on finely punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Excellent quality crisp work, some wear to gilding. Length 1.46 inches.

Rare 19th century Japanese stoneware Kuro Oribe chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) of cylindrical shape with square shoulders. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Beautiful free potting, typical elliptical lines on the foot left by a string used to cut off the piece from potter’s wheel...

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape with blue and white starburst pattern. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Height 0.86 0. Inches

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in seed shape with sunken relief carving of a cucumber and an eggplant. Excellent design in Japanese taste, green and brown stained vegetables, natural imperfections in staghorn, great patina. Height 5/8 inches.

19th century 2-toned ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a seated chubby puppy. Netsuke is skillfully carved in characteristic Hida school ittobori (one cut) style with clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece. Wonderful face with surprised expression, eyes are inlaid with black horn, wonderful mellow patina. Signed SUKENORI on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1048...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes holding a heavy axe in his hands, and with a large sword in dragon scabbard on his back. Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) was very popular in the capital Edo. It contained numerous tales of an outlaw named Sung-Chiang and his 108 followers. Very good detailed carving, wonderful face with expression of tense concentration, beautiful staining, excellent wear and patina...

19th century staghorn netsuke of seated Kikujido - the Chrysanthemum Boy - with a chrysanthemum flower by his shoulder. Kikujido was a favorite page of the Emperor, but was condemned to exile. The Emperor taught Kikujido a sentence by Buddha to thank him for his loyalty. Kikujido left and settled in a valley full of chrysanthemums, and spent his days writing the phrase on the petals so he would not forget it. Nice carving, good face, excellent patina, great feel of age...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of three auspicious objects - a fan, a coin and a magatama. Strong piece in Japanese taste typical of Asakusa school, beautiful dark staining, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Length 1.62 inches.

1910s (late Meiji to early Taisho) Japanese wooden netsuke carved as a bean pod, its stem forming himotoshi (cord opening. Judging by the material ichii (Japanese yew wood) and clean realistic treatment of the subject, the netsuke was carved by a Hida school carver. Beautifully done, clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece, wonderful patina. Simple elegant piece in Japanese taste. Length 2.21 inches.

Early 19th century staghorn netsuke of a a group of seashells, including a clam, an abalone and a turrid. Good design utilizing natural properties of the material, nicely carved, superb wear and patina from 200 years of use. Length 1.59 inches.