Late 18th to early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a puppy wearing a cloth collar, playing with an abalone shell. Strong early piece with amazingly lifelike facial expression and wonderful fur texture worn on protruding parts. Pleasantly chunky, eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age lines, wonderful wear and patina turning honey color on the bottom. Deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 2 1/16 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke carved as a Japanese martial arts MEN (kendo helmet) resting on a DŌ (breast protector) surrounded by a pile of seashells. Unique subject, a bit of a zen puzzle waiting for an answer. The helmet with a metal grill (men-gane) is used to protect the face and has a series of hard leather and fabric flaps to protect the throat and sides of the neck and shoulders...

Unusual 19th century netsuke of a cloth Daruma doll with wonderful inquisitive face and a shaped opening on the back with anabori (cavern carving) of a palace with a procession of scholars crossing a bridge and pavilions in the back. The cavern is carved unusually deep, and pavilions in the back are very well defined, almost impossible to photograph properly. Excellent face with horn inlaid convex eyes, beautiful stippling defining the texture of its cloth body, wonderful functional shape...

19th century netsuke of a Buddhist priest and famous 14th century poet Ikkyu seated next to a human skull and pointing at it as a reminder that all living things must ultimately die. Uncommon subject, wonderful smiling face, great depiction of the scull, nicely detailed (see the short Buddhist rosary around his right hand), beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 7/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of poet Hitomaro wearing his official coat and ritual hat, leaning on a low table thoughtfully contemplating the world as if seeking inspiration for one of his poems. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a famous poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka Period (7th/8th centuries), and is considered one of the Thirty Six Poetry Immortals of Japan. Wonderful carving with great intense face, excellent staining, wear and patina. Signed RYOKOSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...

18th century netsuke of an emaciated sennin seated on a base wearing a tattered robe and a leaf cape and holding a staff with a bundle of his possessions tied to its top, and with a dog affectionately leaning onto the man. The subject is Sennin Izenshun (Chinese Wei Shan-Chun), who took good care of a black dog that had come to his hermitage, and one day the dog turned into a dragon and took the sennin to heaven...

Height: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 3.4 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 2.2 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated mask maker; shows a critical expression observing his work; excellent workmanship and form; signed Ryuraku, good condition

Height: 3.3 cm (1.3 cm)
Width: 3.3 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 1.9 cm (0.7 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated nobleman holding his fan; excellent workmanship, patina and form; signed Masayuki; good condition

Tall slender vase, slightly narrowed in the waist, with a square shoulder and short wide neck and mouth.
The finely ribbed body of middle brown coarse clay is covered with two elongated patches of thin, translucent reddish-brown glaze. The lip with splashes of greenish glaze, on the inside gray glaze.

Karatsu ware...

Good size 18th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) in a long robe and a leaf cape, carrying on his shoulder a Chinese boy who plays a short trumpet. The netsuke is probably a joke on the subject of bokudo, which is typically depicted as a boy seated on the back of a buffalo and playing a flute - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood....

19th century marine netsuke depicting Ashinaga (long legs) wearing South Sea Islander’s sarong as he sits hugging his absurdly long legs. In Japanese legends he is often accompanied by Tenaga (long arms) whom he puts on his back and goes fishing. Very nice work, beautiful wear to staining, pleasant patina. Signed TOMOYUKI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 1167 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 3/4 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke of a buffalo on a base, its head turned back. Unusual and wonderful stylization of the creature - see its upturned snout and raised ears and horns. Beautifully carved, excellent staining, superb wear and patina, old age lines. Height 1 5/16 inches

Very unusual 19th century marine netsuke of obihasami type, the upper hook carved as leaves of a vine holding a long pod, and the lower hook as a snail starting to climb up the body of the netsuke. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Extraordinary clever and subtle piece in Japanese taste, amazing rendition of the soft body of the mollusc. Excellent patina, the best netsuke of that type that I ever had. Length 4 inches.

Tall zushi or Buddhist temple shrine, housing the wooden figure of the standing Buddha Amida, Buddha of the Western Paradise. Both his hands in mudra. He is standing on a multi-tiered hexagonal base, decorated with flowers. His eyes inset in glass or crystal, which are hardly visible due to old layers of re-lacquering and soot.

The baldachin decorated with double family crest...

Japanese Koransha Fukagawa Imari porcelain platter tray decorated in polychrome glazed pigments and gilt highlights with two birds flying over flowers and bamboo set against an unglazed dark brown matte ground. Two teal colored ribbon form handles are at the sides. Within a double foot rim, the base bears the red Koransha orchid mark of the Company of the Scented Orchid, founded in 1875, set against a white background. Gold gilt rim. Late 19th Century...

1900's Japanese Cast Iron Gold & Silver Inlay Tetsubin with Bamboo & Bird

It is 7 inches (17.8 cm) tall measured with handle up and 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) tall measured with handle down by 6 inches (15.2 cm) wide. It is 2.5 Lb. It will hold 900 ml (cc) water.

It has rust, loss of gilding, missing a leaf of the finial, oxidation, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

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19th Century Japanese Kutani Porcelain Covered Jar with Mountain Scene

It is 14.4 inches (36.5 cm) tall by 10 inches (25.4 cm) wide. It is 12.4 Lb.

It has been repaired (glued back) at a section of the lid. It also has manufacture chips, small indent holes at the body, uneven glazes, and skip glazes, rubbing of paint, dark spots, firing cracks at the inside, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos)...

Four-compartments inrô in black lacquer with a hirameiji background with peonies and butterflies in gilded maki-e...

Fine iron jizai of a butterfly with articulated wings.

The butterfly (choho) in Japan is perceived as "the soul of the living and the dead", the spirits of the dead taking the form of a butterfly on their journey to the other world. The butterfly spreading its wings is a symbol of femininity. It can also symbolize joy and longevity. This last motif is taken up by the samurai, seeing in its twirling figure a motive of good omen allowing them to reach immortality. The...

These pieces are a part of smoking set tabako-ire. It consists of a kiseruzutsu (pipe case) of a tonkotsu(tobacco pouch) in black lacquered crocodile leather. Both parts are bound by a leather link decorated with a red stone ojime.

The tonkotsu is decorated with a menuki (metallic decoration) gilded and skated copper. The menuki has the form of a sitting cross-legged man, joint hands, hidden by the long and wide sleeves of its coat. His eyes a...

Rectangular and flat lacquer Kobako (small box) representing a furoshiki knot seen from above. Fundame background, furoshiki in takamaki-e with floral pattern, inside the folds of the fabric with black and gold sayagata pattern with togidashi maki-e technique. The saya (or sayagata) pattern is composed of Chinese swastikas. This symbol, linked to Buddhism, represents qualities of intelligence, strength and peace. It is a sign of good o...

This is nishijin-Weave kinran silk Wonderful small bag in Edo period(1800-1868). There is a mirror in Edo period in the inside. There is neither stain nor damage. The state is very good. I recommend it for your collection. size::Width15cm (5.91inch) 　Vertical width 9cm ( 3.54inch)

Antique Japanese stoneware jar from Shigaraki kiln. Beautifully uneven form with high shoulders, tapered body and a narrow foot. Made using the local sandy clay from the bed of Lake Biwa, Shigaraki ware is identified by the embedded granules of feldspar. Mineral glaze is spattered over the surface and areas of dark ash adds depth and a prized natural beauty. Shigaraki is known as one of the 6 great pottery regions of Japan.

Age: Edo Period (c. 17th century)

Dimensions: 17" hi...

Antique Japanese iron tomyodai Shinto votive candle holder in the form of a hoju (precious jewel). 12 circular rings for candles and one at the very top of the jewel's point. Attached to a stand with four feet and a rectangular tray to catch the wax from melting candles. From a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine.

Age: Meiji Period (circa 1900-1910)

Dimensions: 25 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide x 8" deep

The falcon is represented resting on a branch. His expression is attentive and we can guess that he is hunting. The artist knew how to infuse him with all the ruthless savagery in his gaze. It is signed by Haru Mitsu. It is finely carved in wood, probably cherry,the pupils inlaid in black horn.I remember having read that this artist liked to exaggerate certain parts of the body of his subjects, here it is clear that the claws, eyes and beak are strongly exaggerated. This is what gives all its st...

19th century netsuke carved as a cluster of eight theatrical masks, those of Okina, Hannya, Hyottoko, Bishamon, Oni, Ikkaku Sennin, Okame and O-Tobide. Excellent faces, very pleasant feel to the surface, compressed dust in crevices. Signed ISSAI on a plaque on the back that serves as himotoshi - for information on this rare artist see p. 517 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Excellent detailed carving, wonderful work by the master carver. Length 1 1/...

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with the top carved in low relief with a seated boy wearing rich robe decorated with brocade pattern and intently looking at koi fish swimming in a large bowl in front of him. Wonderful depiction of robe lines, elegantly incised textile decoration. Wonderfully depicted drops of glaze on the bowl shoulder. Beautiful patina, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 1 9/16 inches.

A Japanese baluster-shaped bronze vase of a rooster turning towards the chick in a chrysanthemum garden. Signed on a rectangular reserve. Meiji period late 19th century Sizes: 15 x 7 x 7 cm Condition report: Good condition

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting a scene of a samurai procession performed by six rats in different attitudes. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Excellent design, funny topic, superb crisp detailing, gilding to the eyes. Length 2 1/8 inches.

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting a barrel maker working on a large barrel. Wonderful design with dynamic posture, superb crisp detailing, comes with original backing. Signed RYUMIN on a gilded strip hanging off a nearby tree. For information on this pupil of Tenmin see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 895. Length 1 11/16 inches

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) in a form of a running boar. Wonderful dynamic design, great crisp detailing, gilded eye. Comes with original backing with design of a stone on it. Length with backing 1 9/16 inches.

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) in a form of two sumo wrestler dolls and a fan used by the judge in sumo matches and decorated with sun, moon and a constellation. Elegant design, great crisp detailing, gilded and silvered highlights. Length 1 9/16 inches.

19th century Japanese bronze mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting chidori (plovers) in flight above and among cresting waves. Elegant design, great crisp detailing, differently colored patinas, comes with original backing. Length 1 5/8 inches.

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting two toys - a hobby horse and a bird on wheels. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Very nice design, wonderful detailing, gold inlays. Length 1 1/2 inches.

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting a vase next to a peony flower with water drops on its petal. Nice touch - a ring handle on the vase moves freely. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Very nice design, wonderful detailing, gold inlays. Length 1 inch.

19th century Japanese iron mae-kanagu (tobacco pouch clasp fitting) depicting God of Abundance Daikoku resting by a bale of rice, his hammer in his hands. Iron is notoriously difficult to work with. Very nice design, wonderful face with wide smile, superb crisp detailing, gold inlays. Length 1 7/16 inches.