Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art (1202)

Late 18th - early 19th century staghorn netsuke of Shoki (Demon Queller) with a sword in one hand, the other one raised to hold his head with a terrified oni crouching on top of it, a sword scabbard on his back. Very strong early carving, wonderful intensely staring expression as he looks up towards his hat. Beautiful mellow patina, large deep himotoshi typical for the period, usual staghorn porous areas in the material...

19th century netsuke carved as a cluster of 9 theatrical masks, most probably all from the same play. Excellent carving, great faces, beautiful staining. Hollowed inside in the manner of ryusa netsuke, wonderful wear and patina.. Length 1 11/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape carved on the front in low relief with a woman holding in her mouth an object that looks like a hammer striker for a musical instrument, a cloth wrapped top of a biwa (Japanese lute) in her hand and a scaly body of a dragon on her right. The woman is Benten - the Goddess of learning, speech and music - and one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, and the netsuke can be interpreted as a wish for scholarly achievements...

Early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) copper box with chased and enameled decoration of an ogival reserve containing a flowering tulip and a gnarled pomegranate bush with fruits by a twisted rock. Comes with a matching tray. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques: metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently heavily enameled and fired...

Rather unusual early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) copper box with chased and enameled decoration of a puff of cloud and a white racing pigeon with feather covered legs. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques: metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently thickly enameled and fired...

Early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) copper box with chased and enameled decoration of four flowers with leaves - I am sure it is possible to identify the flower species. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques: metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently heavily enameled and fired...

Early Showa period (1910s) Japanese mingei (Arts and Crafts) shallow copper box with enameled decoration of a spray of aoi (hollyhock) leaves with tendrils. Wonderful combination of uchidashi (hammered-out) and moriage (piled-up) techniques : metal was raised from the opposite side and raised surface was subsequently thickly enameled and fired. Beautiful work, cleverly textured surface, excellent patina, in perfect condition. Enameled green on the inside...

Early 19th century decent size staghorn netsuke of a man wearing a robe decorated with design of numerous scarecrows and gently inclining his head towards his son that he carries on his back. Perfectly captured moment, excellent strong early carving, superb facial expression, wonderful depiction of scarecrows on his robe...

19th century netsuke of widely smiling Okame enveloped in her robe and holding a large wooden spoon in her hands, with a removable round bottom revealing the shunga part of the netsuke. Excellent carving, especially the face with its wide smile, wonderful flow of her robe. The dots on her forehead are inlaid with brown horn. Great pattern to the flow of her robe, expert staining, beautiful patina. Wonderful sculpture - all that a good netsuke should be...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with bronze top depicting kneeling Okame covering her mouth with her hand as she modestly giggles at the very suggestive shape of a huge nose of a tengu mask lying in front of her. Excellent metalwork with gold, silver and copper inlays, beautiful amber colored patina on the bowl. Signed YUKIHIRO on the top - the artist is listed on p. 94 of KAGAMIBUTA MIRRORS OF JAPANESE LIFE AND LEGEND by Dieuwke Eijer...

18th century or earlier Soten school Japanese sword iron sukashi tsuba with pierced decoration of four samurai with swords and bows among pine trees by a waterfall. Wonderful early work, great design, powerful piece. Signed, the left side of the inscription reads SOTEN, the right one must be the name of a particular artist. Height 2 3/4 inches.

18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba with multimetal inlays depicting a tengu in flight among swirling clouds above city roofs as he carries a stolen jar of oil or sake that he carries in a string, two inlaid inscribed silver plaques. Design continues on the back showing a tall tower and more roofs. Tengu are mythological creatures half men, half birds, usually depicted as goblins, and first-class fighters. Wonderful subject, excellent detailing, inlays in various metals...

18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba depicting a bird in flight among bamboo stems and leaves with design continuing on the back. Wonderful subject, crisp work with gilding, excellent detailing. Beautiful patina, great feel of age. Height 2 3/4 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba inlaid on the front with gilded copper bunch of flowers and grasses, the back inlaid with a sickle. Elegant piece in Japanese taste, superb quality inlay with finely defined petals, great feel of age. Height 3 1/4 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century tanto iron Japanese sword tsuba with four cutouts surrounded by gold inlaid scrolls. Great design, nice feel of age, some rusting, overall in good condition. Height 2 1/2 inches.

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a square throne, with his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - in his lap, and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. There is a protective naga (cobra) wrapped around his waist. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, and thus is invoked before any new undertaking. He bestows good luck on his worshippers, and is invoked in marriage ceremonies and in some forms of Tantric worship...

19th century netsuke of seated Kanzan with a wide grin on his face as he holds an open scroll in his hands. Kanzan (Hanshan in Chinese meaning "Cold Mountain”) is believed to have been an eccentric Zen poet from the Tang Dynasty (618–907) who lived on the Tiantang Mountain in Zhejiang Province...

19th century netsuke in pillow manju (rice cake) shape depicting the upper part of a Nio (one of the Buddhist Guardian Kings) statue towering over a fence, vajra (Buddhist thunderbolt) clenched in his fist and his scarf billowing above him. The back is decorated with a children’s toy figure on a small spatula and leaves in flight among drifts of fog. Wonderful ferocious face, eyes are inlaid with black horn, hollowed inside, warm patina, pleasant wear. Signed ISSAN in rectangular recess on the...