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 marine netsuke carved as inu-bariko - a papier-mâché box in a shape of a simplified dog. Unusual version of the object - the face is that of a human. Opens to reveal a carved bar inside the upper part that serves as himotoshi. Great smiling face, black ink highlights, gold lacquering to the top of the lower part, pleasant wear and patina. Signed GYOKUBUN on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 423 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

19th century rock crystal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in modified egg shape. Does not photograph well. All lines inside the material are not cracks, but natural features of the stone, pleasant patina on the surface. Length 1 inch.

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with Shibayama inlay depicting 3 utensils for tea ceremony: haboki (feather brush for ashes), sumitori (charcoal basket) and hibashi (fire tongues). Clever design, beautiful detailed inlay work - see the texture of silver tongues). The bowl is ebony, the top is boxwood, materials used for inlay are mother of pearl, silver, gold, walnut skin and 2 types of dark wood. Plain back, old silk cord, two parts fit nicely, beautiful mellow patina...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke of obihasami type carved with a couple of bamboo stals. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Simple clever piece typical of Asakusa school, warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Length 4.14 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of abalone shell. Good design, natural imperfections in staghorn, stained pale red, overall in very good condition. Length 13/16 inches.

A Japanese boxwood netsuke depicting Shojo crouched in a typical posture, with his hand resting on his knee, while sleeping from the effects of too much sake, the kimono is finely carved with geometric motifs as well as the long hair on the back. Similar examples of the Nagoya carvers are illustrated in Meinertzhagen, MCI, p.844, Davey, MTH, p.189, no.570 and Lazarnick, NIA, p. .1063. Edo period 19th century Sizes: 3,3 x 2,7 x 2,6 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Soft, light weight wood, dark and light brown mottled, netsuke representing a snake coiling through a rock. The snake in gilt yellow bronze. Signed at the bottom: Osai. Japan, Edo or Meiji period, mid 19th century.

L 2 x W 1 ½ x H 1 ½ inches.

Very good condition.

Perhaps persimmon.

19th century boxwood netsuke of Fukurokuju with his characteristic elongated head wearing a long sleeved robe and holding a fan in his hand. He is one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, his name consisting of Japanese words fuku (happiness), roku (wealth) and ju (longevity). Great face, wonderful flow to the lines of his robe, beautiful patina. Signed SHUZAN for Nagamachi Shuzan in irregular reserve on the back - this very distinct artist is listed on p...

19th century small ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with a pierced design of a butterly by a blooming peony. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, pleasant patina, in great condition. Height 3/8 inches.

Height: 4 cm (1.6 in)
Width: 5.8 cm (2.3 in)
Depth: 3.6 cm (1.4 in)

Excellent Japanese carved netsuke of Daikokuten pouring Fukurokuju sake; fine carving throughout showing superb detailing; natural material; a piece by the hard-to-find artist, Masayuki; good condition

19th century kokutan (ebony) netsuke of a sitting shishi (Buddhist lion), its tail up and its head turned to the left, mouth open in a wide grin. Represented beast is definitely male both because of its explicitely carved bottom and because its mouth is open emitting sound A (the first letter of Sanskrit alphabet), while the female shishi are depicted with closed mouth emitting sound N (the last letter)...

19th century wooden netsuke of a slightly inebriated dancer with a fan in his hand. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red (or golden brown) lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. Beautifully carved drunken facial expression, really nice feel of age to the piece, very pleasantly worn. Height 2 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as Zen Buddhism patriarch Daruma enveloped in his monastic robe. Excellent face with expression of extreme concentration, superb warm patina, very pleasing shape. Height 11/16 inches. Wooden stand used for photography is not included.

This is a finely carved 19th century Japanese netsuke depicting a charming dog holding its paws atop a awabi shell while playing with it. Very nice hair work. Eyes inlaid with stag horn. Netsuke measures 1.50 inches (3.8cm) wide, and 1.10 inches (2.8cm) tall. Unsigned.

Height: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)
Width: 2.5 cm (1 in)
Depth: 1.7 cm (0.6 in)

Japanese carved netsuke of a standing man; inlaid horn to hair and shirt buttons; finely stained; very well modelled; natural material; a/f to side

This a rather rare subject Netsuke made during the 19th century, in Japan, that depicts a rat that is gnawing at a large radish, on top of a straw rice scoop. The rat and radish are made from Sentokudo, a bronze alloy, that has acquired a dark patina with the passage of time. The ring at the bottom of the rice scoop serves as himotoshi. Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.46 inches (3.7cm) wide, 1.68 inches (4.2cm) long, and 0.25 inches (6mm) thick. It is in excellent preserved condition.

19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with 8 cloth dolls of Zen Patriarch Daruma. This representation of Daruma refers to him stretching after 9 years of continuous meditation, when his legs withered from not moving all those years. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, beautiful floret surrounds to the holes, superb patina. Signed SHOZAN on the side - the artist is listed on p...