Japanese Wooden Tonkotsu, Tobacco container, with Kiseruzutsu, Pipe Holder, and carved nut Ojime, before 1900, Tobacco box - 3 1/2", 3 1/4", 1 1/2" high, pipe holder - 8 3/4" long, 1" wide, Nut Ojime - 3/8" diameter, top of the round wooden Tobacco Container and pipe is attached to the rope, all in one piece. Pile holder is natural carved wood, natural dark brown bark shows on the back. Maker's mark on the pipe. The condition is good.

19th century metal and wood kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke. Patinated bronze top with inlaid and carved design of a Saizo dancer playing tsuzumi (a hand drum) by a pine sapling and with the moon partially obscured by cloud in the background. Saizo dancers are usually attending Manzai dancers during New Year celebrations. Wonderful quality inlays and detailing - see the ropes of the drum and a sword sticking out of his clothes, copper inlays and gilding. Beautiful patina on both metal and wood...

19th century netsuke of carved as a cluster of 3 branches of natural fungus, seal with deer finial and double gourd with stopper and its lower end containing carved village scene. Excellent and elegant work with clever use of anabori (cavern) carving technique, wonderful mellow patina. Signed GYOKUHO on the back - the artist is very well known for that kind of work and is discussed on p. 424 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 1/2 inches.

Late 19th century boxwood netsuke of Daikoku standing on 3 rice bales, a mallet in one hand, a bag slung over his shoulder. Daikoku is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of Wealth, rice bales being the representation of it. Nice piece, wonderful smiling face, good detailing, pleasant patina. The part of the bag protruding from his left hand is reattached. Height 1 9/16 inches.

Height: 3.9 cm (1.5 in)
Width: 2.3 cm (0.9 in)
Depth: 3.7 cm (1.4 in)

Quality Japanese netsuke of a seated monkey eating a peach and grasping another in his feet; natural material; excellent hair work and stained scrimmed clothing; signed on a polished reserve, Masanao; good condition

Early 19th century netsuke in manju shape carved with a map of Japanese islands, all prefectures’ names are engraved in minute calligraphy. Very nice work in the manner of Nanka, old age lines, beautiful patina, 2 parts fit nicely. Diameter 1 3/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke, its top with Shibayama inlay of a mosquito. Very rare creature in Japanese art, possibly unique unique subject in netsuke. Very well made, inlays include 2 types of mother of pearl and brown buffalo horn. Beautiful patina, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 1.6 inches.

Early 19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a boy climbing onto a huge double gourd. Nice subject (most probably a reference to a rebus), excellent face with a wide smile. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Wear consistent with age, wonderful patina. Length 1.85 inches.

19th century netsuke of four monkeys trying to contain three huge fogs that they caught and put in a tied bundle of lotus leaves. Very unusual (possibly unique) subject, beautifully carved, excellent faces of both types of creatures, eyes of the frogs are inlaid with light brown horn, wonderful hairwork, great patina. Signed cursively on the bottom - it appears to read ROSEI, but I am not entirely sure. Length 1.59 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of standing Saigyo Hoshi with his attributes of a large hat and a staff as he looks upward toward the summit of Mount Fuji. Saigyo Hoshi was a member of the Fujiwara clan, a poet and a priest, as well as a military advisor to the Shogun Yoritomo. Netsuke is beautifully carved out of kurogaki (black persimmon wood) with excellent face and wonderful flow to the lines of the robe. Wear consistent with age, beautiful characteristic sheen to the surface it the wood...

19th century netsuke carved as a group of 12 animals of the Oriental zodiac: dragon, horse, tiger, rat, rooster, dog, monkey, snake, goat, pig, buffalo and rabbit. Clever design, excellent carving to the last detail, deep undercutting, beautiful wear and patina. Eye of the rabbit is inlaid with salmon pink coral, all the rest are inlaid with dark horn. Very beautiful wear, honey colored patina...

19th century netsuke of an octopus wearing a jacket and towering over a monkey seated on an abalone shell. Unusual subject - normally they are wrestling, but here it does not seem to be the case - the monkey is smiling. Superbly carved, excellent faces, wonderful detailing - see the coat of the monkey and abalone texture. Eyes of the octopus are inlaid with black horn. Beautiful wear and patina consistent with age, turning yellow on the back...

Length: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)
Height: 3.6 cm (1.4 in)
Depth: 3.2 cm (1.3 in)

Fine and rare Japanese carved netsuke of a reclining horse; natural material; superb hair work and patina; signed Masatomo on a rectangular reserve; good condition

19th century ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a resting wild boar, its feet tucked beneath it, head raised. Netsuke is skillfully carved by the master of the Hida school in characteristic ittobori (one cut) style with clever use of wood texture to represent the creature’s fur and add to charm of the piece. For similar examples see Bushell’s NETSUKE FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR, p. 128. Excellent rendition of facial expression, wonderful mellow patina...

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in seed shape with sunken relief carving of a cucumber and an eggplant. Excellent design in Japanese taste, green and brown stained vegetables, natural imperfections in staghorn, great patina. Height 5/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a shishi (Buddhist lion) seated with its front paw on a largehollow ball, its mouth open and upper teeth showing. Wonderful depiction of its ferocious face and curly mane and tail, beautiful wear to the surface, really nice feel of age to the piece. Height 1.32 inches.

Length: 3.8 cm (1.7 in)
Height: 3.2 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 3 cm (1.2 in)

Japanese carved netsuke of a boy crouching over and holding a large peach; natural material; very well-modelled; good condition

19th century wooden netsuke carved as a theatrical mask of Okame with characteristic chubby cheeks. Great facial expression with a slight smile, excellent finish, beautiful wear and patina. Signed IKKO on the back bar - this remarkable artist is discussed on p. 512 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 13/16 inches.