Netsuke – Good size model of a toad with a rather strong expression, crouched down, about to jump, its legs folded under its belly. His eyes are encrusted with brown horn. Nice natural patina of the wood. Japan Edo (1603-1868) 18th century.

19th century marine netsuke of three shirauo (whitebait). Classic design, excellent detailed carving, eyes are double inlaid with horn and mother of pearl. Beautiful wear and warm patina, wonderful sheen to the surface. Signed JUGYOKU for Ryukosai Jugyoku on the back - for discussion of this excellent artist see p. 546 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Length 2 .03 inches.

Height: 3.8 cm (1.7 in)
Length: 3.2 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 2.5 cm (1 in)

Quality wooden netsuke of peasant sharpening his adz on a grindstone; finely carved throughout with a wonderful patina; signed Tomokazu

Century Japanese Ebony Wood Netsuke: Tanuki Badger, Signed Minko with Kakikan

19th Century, finely 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. Pupils made in bronze and inlaid with black horn. Wonderful chimney himotoshi that starts on the bottom, and extends to the left side of his body, between his legss...

Early to mid- 19th century netsuke representing nio (one of the Buddhist Guardian Kings) sitting on a huge old straw sandal and mending it with a rope. Excellent carving, beautifully stained, wonderful wear and patina. Signed TOMOCHIKA in oval reserve on the bottom - the artist is Tomochika the First as discussed on p. 1148 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1.2 inches.

18th century netsuke of a seated skinny dog wearing a collar with bell and resting one front paw on a cloth ball. Strong early piece, beautifully carved - great face with horn inlaid eyes, wonderful rendition of its spine and ribs, superbly carved paws, netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, beautiful wear and patina (some irregularities on the surface on the darker colored part of its back), old age lines...

18th century good size wooden netsuke of a monstrously tall South Seas islander wearing a leaf skirt and holding a fish in one hand, with a man in Chinese robe hardly reaching a knee level of the giant and raising his hand in amazement. Unusual subject, very strong early carving with obvious and expected wear, wonderful face with wide open mouth, superb patina with beautiful warm sheen, deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Perfectly balanced - stands on its own...

Mid- 19th century netsuke depicting Kokusempu Riki (Li Kui in Chinese) - one of the Suikoden heroes - holding a huge axe. Loosely based on historical events, the Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) it tells the story of a group of 108 rebels living at the edge of Liangshan Marsh who helped to protect the poor and oppressed. Kokusempu Riki (Li Kui in Chinese) was a priest, who was expelled from the Hakuryojin Temple...

Height: 2.9cm (1.2 in)
Length: 4.6cm (1.8 in)
Depth: 2.5cm (1.0 in)

Japanese ebony clams dream / breath netsuke; dwellings and individuals carved inside the larger clam; very fine; good condition and old patina

Late 19th century wooden netsuke of a monkey wearing a short jacket and holding a peach as it protectively leans covering a woven basket containing more fruit. Wonderful quality carving with extraordinary face, limbs and hairwork, perfectly captured spirit of the scene. Eyes are double inlaid, beautiful differentiated staining and patina. Signed SOKO for Morita Soko on the bottom - for a lengthy discussion of this extraordinary artist from the So School see p...

Ivory manju netsuke depicting a giant cricket with long antennae next to an aubergine. Signed Mitsuo 光雄 under the base near the himotoshi holes. Origin: Japan Period: Edo 19th century Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 2cm. State of conservation: Very good

18th century netsuke of a standing Mongolian archer, a bow in his hands and a quiver with arrows behind his back. Very strong early sculpture, boldly carved, wonderful smiling face, excellent depiction of his military coat. Perfectly balanced - stands on its own on flat surface, netsuke of typical 18th century triangular section. Extraordinary rich patina, deep differently sized himotoshi. Superb netsuke. Height 3 3/4 inches (95 mm).

Early 19th century netsuke of a foreigner with a fierce face sitting next to a large hollowed ball with circular openings in it. The subject may be a play on the concept of sūnyata - "emptiness", “vacuity" or “nothingness”, and the "tenne" ribbon around the body may suggest a Celestial figure. Excellent face, superb depiction of limbs and clothes, eyes are inlaid with black horn, beautiful wear and patina...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a standing blind masseur leaning on his staff and with both of his feet on one geta (clog sandal) while he is pulling out a large rock lodged in the base of his other geta. Rather unusual subject, the character easily recognizable by a habitual bump on his head and oversized blind eye inlaid with horn. Perfectly captured mood of the scene, great detailing of his face and clothing, rich warm patina with beautiful staining, in excellent condition...

19th century ebony netsuke of a crouching rat with its young climbing on mother’s back. Wonderfully captured interaction, superb detailed carving, very beautiful patina, in excellent condition. Length 2.51 inches.

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.

This 19th century carved wood netsuke of an Otafuku (traditional female theater character) is 2 ¼” long, 1 ¾” wide and 1” thick. It was made by a well known wood netsuke carver Shuzan; his signature is on the back. Shuzan was the pupil of master netsuke carver Shugetsu. It is in excellent condition.

An unusual Japanese wood, metal and glass netsuke, with an incorporated compass in a dedicated panel with astral, sun, moon, and stars. Structure in carved wood with chrysanthemum symbol and an open fan in the circular shape of the rising sun at the back. The original cord comes out of a hole with a metal ring. Dial with cardinal directions. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 1,4 × 4,7 × 4,7 cm. Condition report: Good condition