19th century staghorn netsuke of a bat resting on an old roof tile. The tile face has raised characters reading TODAI-JI - it is one of the Seven Great Temples located in Nara, and is the headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism. Typical stag antler texture to the material, superb quality stippling and staining perfectly imitating the rough texture of a ceramic tile, extraordinary rich patina...

A Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting the poet Ono No Komachi. Excellent fineness of the details of the carving to simulate the grain of the wood on her trunk where she is sitting leaning on her cane with her long hair partially covered by her hat, next to a bamboo container. Signature engraved within Keisai reserve. Meiji period 19th century Sizes: 2,9 x 4 x 2,2 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Square-shaped ivory netsuke manju depicting various objects, among which some fans stand out. The sculpture depicts kitchen tools, work tools and everyday objects. This netsuke features a silver bronze hook in the center. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4 x 4 x 1cm. State of conservation: Very good

A boxwood netsuke depicting a snake coiled around itself. Signature engraved under the base. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji late 19th century. Dimensions: 4 x 3.5 x 2 cm. State of conservation: Very good

Early 19th century netsuke carved as a group of three horses frolicking in a bamboo grove. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, clever compact design, excellent level of detail, great faces with horn inlaid eyes, beautiful patina. Signed MORINOBU on the bottom - the artist is listed and this very netsuke is illustrated on p. 800 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Comes with label in French, Height 1 1/8 inches.

Ivory manju netsuke depicting Chok'aro, a character from Japanese tradition, trying to catch a miniature horse that is running away from its gourd. This netsuke shows Chok'aro in a dynamic pose, his eyes intent on catching the fleeing horse...

Ryusa Manju type ivory netsuke with openwork decoration and in the center a shishi, a Japanese mythological creature representing a lion or a lion dog, looking backwards. The frame around the Shishi features an accurate karakusa 唐草 decoration, a motif of stylized branches and leaves of Chinese origin. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 4.5 x 4.5 x 1.5cm. State of conservation: Very good

Netsuke – A lovely model of boxwood group of chestnuts, one of which reveals the passage of a small worm, in carved bone. The natural chestnut color and wear to the wood provides a very naturalistic depiction. Wide himotoshi at the back. Beautiful natural patina. Nice finesse of sculpture. Probably former Carlo Monzino collection, n°191 sold at Sothebys London in 1995. Dimensions: 5 cm Edo period late 18th century

A Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting a scene from Japanese mythology of a warrior called Nitta No Shiro riding a wild boar. Nitta No shiro holds firmly in his hand a tanto, a traditional Japanese sword, with a sure and determined grip...

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with metal top depiction a tiger on rocks by the sea and a dragon in flight among swirling clouds about to engage in a fight. Very nice pairing of most powerful Zodiac animals, bronze disc with gilding, tiger is inlaid with shakudo (alloy of copper and gold) with characteristic black patination resembling lacquer. Excellent crisp work, some wear to gilding on the dragon, marine material bowl with typical lines on the outside...

Height: 3.3 cm (1.4 in)
Width: 3.5 cm (1.5 in)
Depth: 2.9 cm (1.2 in)

Fine Japanese wood netsuke of a seated reader calling; very high quality carving with detailed features picked out; this artist worked in exotic Chinese timbers; rare; early 19th century; signed; good condition

19th century netsuke of recumbent mother Shishi with a Young one that is playfully climbing on her back. They, both seemed to be on the alert with their eyes wide open. Excellent form a symmetry, great rendition of their curly manes and tails, from an artist that was quite adept and proficient at carving animals, according to George Lazarnick, in his book “Netsuke and Inro Artist and How to Read their Signatures...

Tall late 18th to early 19th century wooden netsuke of a standing emaciated sennin wearing a tattered robe and leaf skirt and cape and holding onto a very long staff with gnarled top. Awesome face, wonderful knobby scull, beautiful rendition of his hair, ribs and limbs. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - gold lacquer over red, so as the netsuke wears the color of a lower layer starts showing. Very beautifully done himotoshi on the back, superb wear and patina, very impressive sculpture...

Finely carving of a charming Pigeon resting on its characteristic true-to-form bird feet, just as shown in the book 'NETSUKE 100 Miniature Masterpieces from Japan', by Noriko Tsuchiya, that displays netsuke pieces from the The British Museum in London. Fine cohesive composition partly stained to enhance its form. Eyes inlaid with dark horn. The signature of MITSUHIRO 光廣 is intricately carved under the pigeon feet, as shown in the book's picture.

18th Century Japanese Wood Tall Netsuke: Gama Sennin

18th Century, excellently hand-carved Boxwood Netsuke depicting a standing Gama, wearing the typical mugwort cape with wide sleeves, and a rope tied at his waist, holding a staff with his right hand, and carrying a three-legged toad (that possesses magical powers) on top of his left shoulder. Very interesting himotoshi that starts in the back of the Sennin and exits on the left side of his body (see photo #8)...

19th Century, excellently hand-carved boxwood netsuke depicting a seated Tanuki, or Japanese Badger (raccoon dog) raising his right paw in order to beat his belly, or distended scrotum as it if were a drum. Outstanding hair work, a distinguishing characteristic of this netsuke master. Wonderful natural himotoshi that is formed by the bending tail of the Tanuki over its right hind leg...

Early 19th century large netsuke depicting flat himono (dried fish - salmon in this case) with a rat gnawing at its head. Clever design, very good carving, eyes of the rodent are inlaid with brown horn, pleasant patina. Himotoshi (cord hole) goes through the mouth to the back of the netsuke. Length 4.7 inches (119 mm).

Length: 3.3 cm (1.4 in)
Height: 2.5 cm (1 in)
Depth: 2 cm (0.8 in)

Quality netsuke of a puppy chewing on an octopus tentacle; natural material; stained fur a little faded over time; some age lines; late 18th century; signed in an oval cartouche