19th century lacquered boxwood netsuke of a horagai - a trumpet shell (Charonia Tritonis). These shells in Japan were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets. Beautifully carved netsuke in Japanese taste, muted lacquer colors with some wear exposing the wood underneath, tiny chipped areas along the ridge of the shell, excellent feel of age to the piece. Length 2.42 inches.

This is a finely hand carved, 19th Century Kurokaki Wood Netsuke depicting Tenaga "Long Arms" being carried on the back of Ashinaga "Long Legs"...

Unusual 19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as a kiseruzutsu - a tobacco pipe case. Simple and very clever design in Japanese taste, pleasant patina. Length 1 inch.

Decent size 19th century netsuke carved as a theatrical mask of Buaku and used for demonic roles such as Kaminari, Emma-O or any nameless demon or scary devil. Wood with Negoro lacquer, beautifully carved and lacquered, excellently conveyed facial expression, nice patina. Signed SUKETOSHI TO (carved by Suketoshi) on the back - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1051. Height 2 7/16 inches (62 mm).

A Japanese boxwood netsuke of a Shinto priest wearing the geta and holding an umbrella with his right hand and the lantern with the other. Edo period 18th century Sizes: 7,5 x 2,5 x 2 cm. Condition report: Good condition

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of a bat with large ears and characteristic snout. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.05 inches.

Height: 3.4 cm (1.3 in)
Width: 2.1 cm (0.8 in)
Depth: 2.4 cm (0.9 in)

Finely carved deer antler netsuke of Hotei with, typically, his large bag draped over his shoulder; white metal has been inlaid into the top section of the piece, possibly silver; good condition

Ivory netsuke of a guardian lion, komainu in Japanese or shishi in Chinese, with golden eyes. Resting on its front paws, its head is turned backwards on a four-lobed base.
The komainu is inspired by the Chinese guardian lion shishi, which dates back to the Tang dynasty (581-618)...

19th century white bronze ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of compressed ball shape with cast and pierced geometric and scrolling designs. Nice crisp work, full liner to the central hole, pleasant feel of age, beautiful patina. Diameter 3/4 inches.

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Usofuki with characteristically pursed lips. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, great patina. some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.06 inches.

19th century netsuke of a kneeling boy holding a theatrical mask of Hyottoko (perplexed peasant) above a paper pinwheel on a stick. Extraordinary portrait quality face with a slight smile, superb carved textile patterns on his robe, clever use of ink to highlight his hair. Beautifully carved knot on his back, wonderful patina and wear. Signed on the bottom SHORAKU - the artist is Ono Shoraku, discussed on p. 972 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

19th century Japanese small lacquered wood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of an oni. Uncommon image, excellent intense face, great patina. Crisp detailing, nicely lacquered, some wear to the surface. Signed RYUUN on the back bar - the artist is listed in NETSUKE MASKS by Raymond Bushell, p. 175, signatures 241-243. Height 1.11 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.

The arquebuse is technically perfectly detailed, its mechanism works. The barrel of the cannon is made of iron inlaid with bronze silver and gold. The carriage is made of very dense black wood, probably ebony inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A small metal key allows it to be dismantled, leaving the incised signature of the artist to appear under the barrel Kuni-Tomo familly perhaps Sada-Hisa who liked to depict birds and flowers on his tsubas? Edo period 19th century or earlier...

19th century marine material netsuke of Hotei seated leaning on his bag , a boy in straw hat touching the sizeable belly of the monk. Hotei was supposedly a historical figure - a 10th century Chinese monk, who was very kind to children, and is worshipped as one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune. Nicely carved, pleasant patina. Signed TOSHIKAZU on the bottom - the artist is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 543, number 3046). Length 2 inches.

19th century netsuke of a puppy wearing a collar with a bell and lying on an old straw sandal. Wonderful quality carving - see its right front paw lifting a straw rope that it is about to chew, its chubby body and perfectly rendered texture of woven straw of the sandal. Signed KAIGYOKUSAI in rectangular reserve on the bottom for Masateru, whose more common signature is KAIGYOKU MADO MASATERU (Kaigyoku’s grandson, Masateru)...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a dog licking its puppy. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, superb realistic carving, the breed looks like spaniel or Pekinese, extraordinary depiction of their fur and faces. Great netsuke. Length 1.7 inches.

Length: 6cm (2.3 in)
Height: 2.3 cm (0.8 in)
Depth: 1.5 cm (0.6 in)

Japanese netsuke of a dry salmon head; carved from some form of horn; remnants of colour in the eyes; interesting himatoshi location; 19th century; condition

Width: 4 cm (2.6 in)
Height: 1.9 cm (0.6 in)

Japanese wooden manju netsuke of a phoenix, the backside carved into a woven chained effect; good condition

19th century boxwood netsuke depicting theatrical mask of Ikkaku sennin (single horn Sage). The character was an Immortal, but ended up living on earth as he have not been able to resist temptations presented by females. Rare mask subject, wonderful pensive face, beautiful wear and patina, old paper label on the back. Recently deaccessioned from the Framingham History Center, Massachusetts, where it has been part of the collection since 1923. Height 1 5/8 inches.

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...

Length: 4.8 cm (1.9 in)
Height: 2 cm (0.7 in)
Depth: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)

Fine Japanese netsuke of a sparrow; natural material; deep himatoshi; good patina and feels great in the hand; good condition

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...

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) wooden netsuke of a bamboo shoot. Excellent realistic carving utilizing texture and natural growth lines of the material (ichii - Japanese yew wood) to represent the texture of the leaves. Wonderful sense of volume, very pleasant to hold. Cursively inscribed by himotoshi - may be a signature or a rendition of Japanese character TAKE (bamboo). Height 2.67 inches.

This is a 19th Century, Dear Horn Antler Netsuke in the form of a Seated Monkey that is holding its young on its lap with both hands in a protective manner, with a tender look on its face. Impressive chimney himotoshi, common of Edo period netsuke, that starts in the back of the monkey and continues to a large opening on the bottom of it. Wonderful. rich patina. Unsigned. Netsuke measures 1.02 inches (2.5cm) in diameter, and 1.47 inches (3.7cm) tall...

Late Meiji - early Taisho (1900-1920) okimono size wooden mask of smiling Okame. Wonderfully captured facial expression, cleverly exaggerated cheeks sticking out, great quality carving typical for the Hida school. The material is ichii (Japanese yew wood) with clever use of wood texture to add to the charm of the piece. Signed SUKEZUMI on the back - the artist must have been a Hida school carver and worked on netsuke as well. Height 5 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1890s to 1920) lacquered wood netsuke representing a Gigaku theater mask of Baramon - a brahmin of the priestly Indian caste. Rather rare mask, superb quality wonderfully expressive face, lighter wood (probably ichii - Japanese yew wood), excellent use of silvery lacquer. Height 2 1/8 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with bronze top depicting kneeling Okame covering her mouth with her hand as she modestly giggles at the very suggestive shape of a huge nose of a tengu mask lying in front of her. Excellent metalwork with gold, silver and copper inlays, beautiful amber colored patina on the bowl. Signed YUKIHIRO on the top - the artist is listed on p. 94 of KAGAMIBUTA MIRRORS OF JAPANESE LIFE AND LEGEND by Dieuwke Eijer...

Finely crafted Japanese carved wood netsuke figure; of a dragon head, late 19th century period. Size; Length of carving is 2 1/4 inches. Condition Report; Good condition, no imperfections.

This is a superbly carved 19th Century Japanese Netsuke, depicting a seated Young Gama Sennin, wearing mugwort leave clothes, happily playing with a large toad that he is holding with a rope. He has by his side a rice straw basket filled with mugwort leaves. Wonderful expression, excellent form and detail, all throughout...

Umimatsu cup. Late Edo. 7,5 x 6 x 3 cm Minimally sculpted, this cup as a particularly elegant form, including an handle, mostly coming from the natural form of the Umimatsu (black coral) root. Cannot be exported.

Height: 4.4 cm (1.8 in)
Width: 4.4 cm (1.8 in)
Depth: 2.9 cm (1.2 in)

Japanese carved netsuke of two near-blind peasants, one with a head tumour; guiding their way with a lantern, they struggle, each grasping the ties of a sandal; natural material; age cracks; signed Jugyoku

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). Wonderful expressive face, oversized powerful paws, superbly voluminous mane and bushy tail,...

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in ball shape with elegantly pierced lace patterns and concentric circles around its equator. Wonderful design, very clear carving, metal liner to the central hole. Height 11/16 inches.

A wonderful boxwood carved netsuke of five turtles climbing on top of each other. Intricate details can be seen throughout, creating a very realistic form. Each turtle has little black eyes. The large turtle on bottom has retreated into his shell and has the artist's signature delicately carved into his belly "Senzan". Size: 2.25" height, 2" width, 1.75" depth

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a man carrying a cloth bundle on its back with a boy’s head sticking out of it, while a huge dragonfly landed on the father’s sleeve. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing, and then the wood. The fronts of his feet have been reattached, repair is done very well, the figure stands on its own. Excellent faces, beautifully worn, really nice feel of age to the piece. Height 2 3/16 inches.