Unique handworn / polished natural burl wood brush rest in the shape of a mink okimono. The low long shape makes for an ideal brush rest for an calligrapher...

Pair 19C Japanese Solid Bronze Elephant Figure SIGNED Meiji Period Pair Japanese Solid Bronze Models of elephants. Each boldly cast in the form of an elephant, applied two tusks. Very heavy. Mother elephant signed “せいや製 Seiya Sei”, child elephant signed “光元 Kou Yen”. Size: Mother elephant: 22.5 cm long, 9.5 cm tall Child elephant: 18.5 cm long, 13.3 cm tall Condition: Excellent

Antique Japanese wooden bowl carved in the form of a wide lotus leaves. On the inside of the bowl, a frog with turquoise eye climbs the stalk of a lotus blossom. Two more frogs cling to curling leafy edges. The underside of the bowl is carved like the underside of a lotus leaf including it's spiraling stalk.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 12 1/4" wide diameter x 3 1/4" high

Group of three bronze rabbits with black patina, partially chiselled. Two rabbits resting on their four legs, the third trained on its hind legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are designated by a single word: usagi. The hare occupies an important place in Japanese legends and superstitions...

An antique Japanese bronze cast crow standing on a Momiji (Maple) wood Kadai (flat natural wood stand). Having just landed, it appears to be getting familiar with its surroundings. One can almost imagine its caw to stake out its territory. Fine feathers and claws show the detail that went into the casting of this piece.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10" Long by 8 3/8" High by 8" Wide

A charming Okimono made of fine grain wood, probably cherry wood because it is too light and wide rings to be boxwood. It represents a couple of cats or martens dressed in kimono. Very nice sculpture, neat details, hair, whiskers. Inlaid eyes. Two other sculptures of this subject are known but much smaller and are housed in the Metropolitan and the other in the Fine art of Boston. They are announced as netsuke. Good condition, nice patina. Worn of uses for a sculpture of the 19th century...

Bronze okimono with brown patina of a mouse lying down. The coat, the tail and the legs are chiselled. The details of the head are particularly detailed, such as the moustache hairs and the long eyelashes.
In Japan, the term nezumi refers to both the mouse and the rat. They are regarded as the messenger of Daikokuten, the deity of trade and wealth...

Antique bronze sculpture of a male lion. Standing with head raised, he lets out a roar. Beautifully rendered with naturalistic details especially in mane and face. Signed with a raised cartouche on the underside of his belly: 誠谷作 Seiya saku "Work of Seiya". His full name is Genryūsai Seiya (源龍斎誠谷) and he was the master craftsman of a studio specializing in high quality wares for export...

Japanese antique okimono of a group of 3 frogs. The younger frog sits on a larger frog's back while one frog is separate. Carved of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with reverse painted glass eyes.
Frogs are considered symbols of luck in Japanese culture and are used widely in poetry and art. The word for "frog" (kaeru) in Japanese also means "return" which is why small sculptures of frogs are sometimes carried by travelers as a way to make sure they return home safely from their journeys...

A bronze crane in dark almond colored patina of superb craftsmanship dating from the late 19th to early 20th century (Meiji period). It is quite large at 48.5 cm tall (19 inches) and is in excellent condition.

Length: 30 cm (12 in)
Height: 14.5 cm (5.9 in)
Depth: 11 cm (4.4 in)
Weight: 1.5 kg

Extraordinary statement piece; fine Japanese carved okimono of a resting elephant; the skin and bone structure and modelling of the piece is anatomically perfect throughout; the tusks are also wooden; a fine piece indeed; good condition

Ceramic sculpture of the white fox, messenger of Inari – the Shinto and Buddhist deity of harvest, rice and abundance.

The Inari fox (kitsune) is a benevolent animal, a sign of prosperity and wealth. This proximity to the kami Inari leads to the two figures being mixed and substituted in the imagination, with the animal becoming a fox-god. Inari’s fox is depicted holding a variety of objects in its mouth with different symbolic meaning: a wheat ear, a scroll, a ball or a key...

Ivory okimono depicting the goddess Kannon standing on a lotus flower. With her right hand she holds a koro while with her other hand she holds a jewel that grants her wishes. She signs Gyokushin 玉心 engraved on red lacquer under the base. Period: Meiji end of 19th century. Dimensions: 25 x 7 x 6 cm. Conservation status: Excellent condition