Catalog: Antiques (1211)

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke, the top being Chinese carving adopted as netsuke, with scene of 5 scholars among various trees and pavilions. Excellent quality work with deep undercarving, beautiful wear and patina, in great condition, dark hardwood bowl with old natural stable lines, peg at the back for the cord. Bowl diameter 1.76 inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) bone obidome (sash ornament) carved as a pair of swimming carp. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2.95 inches.

Late Qing Dynasty (1880s - 1911) Chinese export brooch / pin with brass frame and carved cinnabar lacquer center with decoration of a scholar meditating among rocks under a tree. Very nice work, in excellent condition, marked CHINA on the back. Length with frame 1.85 inches.

1900-1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese pottery Kyoto ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) in double gourd shape with enamel decoration of brocade pattern with leaves, branches and flowers. Beautiful finely crackled glaze, wonderful slightly crooked upper part of the gourd giving the piece extra character. The foot shows stoneware body with concentric lines. Old turned lid lined with gold foil paper on the inside...

Rare 19th century Japanese ceramic Kuro Oribe chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with two mock handles. 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. Characteristic kuro (black) Oribe beautiful rich glaze enveloping most of the sides with one open areas painted with underglaze brown flowers, extraordinary patina...

1920s (late Meiji - early Taisho) ceramic chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony). Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Kyoto ware with dark brown to black glaze and beautiful tan colored streak going from the mouth to the middle of the body, old turned resin lid lined with gold leaf paper on the inside...

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese ceramic Oribe ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with two mock handles. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Characteristic rich green glaze on the top, beautiful underglaze brown painting of fern sprigs on one side and plant shoots and brocade patterns on the other, wonderful finely crackled glaze...

Very unusual 19th century Asakusa school Japanese staghorn kanzashi - a hair pin - carved on one end as a lotus with folded leaf, stems and a bud. Superbly clever piece, excellent execution, probably carved by Kokusai himself - this superb and original carver, the founder of Asakusa school of netsuke carving is listed on p. 648 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

18th century boxwood netsuke of minogame (turtle with dragon head and bushy tail, usually associated with longevity) sitting on water lily leaf. Strong early carving, great detailing of the turtle, its carapace, tail and head. Length 2.1 inches.

19th century wooden sashi netsuke made out of natural length of root wood. Elegant simple piece in Japanese taste, himotoshi by the top for hanging, extraordinary beautiful patina, great feel of age, excellent piece for a scholar’s desk. Length 6.25 inches.

Unusual late Taisho (1920s) netsuke of kagamibuta (mirror lid) type with wooden bowl, rotating himotoshi peg and cloisonné top decorated with numerous flowers. Very well made, beautiful enamel colors, in superb condition. Bowl diameter 1.72 inches.

Unusual 19th century lacquer ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of seed shape with faceted surface showing variously colored layers of lacquer from which the piece was built. Wonderful design piece, metal liner, in great condition. Height 0.67 inches.

19th century cypress wood small okimono representing standing Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in his monastic robe dramatically billowing in the wind. The sculpture is skillfully carved out of Japanese cypress branch in ittobori (one cut) style characteristic of Hida Province with clever use of natural wood shape, structure and texture as elements of design. Excellently conveyed expression of extreme concentration on Daruma’s face, beautiful patina...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju shape with openwork carving of a winged water dragon in flight among clouds. Superb design and excellent quality sharp carving, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Loss to the part of the inner ring (not visible when manju is put together, photo #5, lower right image) not affecting integrity of the piece. Diameter 1.6 inches.

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of the old man Okina with its typical smiling expression. Actual size masks are used in Sambaso dance. Wonderfully captured facial expression, good representation of its hanging lower jaw, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece...

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of smiling Okame. Wonderfully captured facial expression, cleverly exaggerated cheeks sticking out, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece. Signed SUKEZUMI on the back - the artist must have been a Hida school carver and worked on netsuke as well. Height 5 inches.

19th century Asakusa school stag antler netsuke of a seated tanuki (badger) with its enormous belly, an inscribed sake bottle in one paw, an accounting book in the other. In Japanese folklore tanuki is a notorious trickster: it drums with his paws on its large belly (tanuki no hara tsuzumi), imitating the sounding of gongs in temples and inns, and leading tired travelers astray in the darkness. Judging by the book in its paw, this time tanuki acts as a sake vendor...

Very unusual 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of eagle talons clutching a tama (Precious Gem). Beautifully carved out of dark dense wood (probably kurogaki - black persimmon), gold lacquer highlights to the folds of the talons, tama is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1.7 inches.