Antique Japanese teshoku candle holder made of bronze. A long handle makes it easy to carry a candle around for light as well as very stable when set down. Cut-out design is of a Hoju, the Buddhist wish granting ball...

Antique Japanese round porcelain plate decorated with blue underglaze scene of two fish and underwater plants. The plate stands on a round foot and the underside is decorated with rings and scrolling flora in blue underglaze. A small gold kintsugi repair and kiri tomobako are evidence that this was a valuable and prized part of someone's collection years ago.

Age: 17th century

Dimensions: 6 1/4" wide x 1 1/8" high

19th century wooden netsuke of a group of three eggplants: the larger one is ripe, its skin ruptured to show the flesh of the vegetable, and one of the smaller vegetables is hollowed and lacquered on the inside to be used as a sake cup. Cleverly designed, superb detailed carving - see the texture of the vegetable in the ruptured area, very pleasant wear consistent with age. Dark dense wood - ebony or kurogaki (black persimmon), extraorinary sheen to the surface...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a monkey seated with its head down and turned to its left, supporting a hude bamboo shoot on its shoulder. Excellent carving with clean lines, great thoughtful expression on its face. Large and deep himotoshi (cord opening) in accordance with the habit of the time. Overall beautiful mellow patina from wear. Very clever and charming piece. Height 1 9/16 inches.

A Japanese Satsuma Gosu blue bowl of a spiral motifs with enamels and gilt. Edo period middle 19th century Sizes: 27 x 2 cm. Condition report: Good condition

Small round zushi consisting of two parts. The outside of both are covered in nashiji lacquer. On the inside of the one part in relief is carved in fine detail the image of Bishamonten holding a trident and a pagoda, subduing two demons. Inside the cover sits Benzaiten playing the biwa.
Bishamon and Benten are two of the seven gods of good fortune (shichifukujin), but they each hold a position in the Buddhist pantheon, as well.
Both images in plain, unpainted camphor wood...

An incredible large antique Japanese merchant Todana Tansu (storage chest with doors and drawers) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originally used in a Japanese store to stock and display wares and supplies as well as provide a beautiful functional furniture accent for the merchant...

Early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a seated shishi (Buddhist lion) hugging a large ball. Strong early piece, wonderful ferocious face, powerful oversized paws with beautifully defined claws, eyes are inlaid with brown horn, loose ball in its mouth. Excellent hairwork (see its mane and bushy tail), old age lines, deep differently sized himotoshi, beautiful wear and patina consistent with age, pleasantly fat, great sculpture. Height 1 5/8 inches.

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.

19th century netsuke of a chubby seated puppy with one front paw on an abalone shell. Wonderful depiction of its fat body, playful face, great hairwork, eyes are inlaid with dark horn. Old age lines, himotoshi is formed by its left hind leg, beautiful patina turning honey color on the back where netsuke was touching silk of the kimono. Signed KYOGYOKU (alternative reading id Gyotama) on the bottom. Height 1 inch.

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape decorated on the front with a low relief carving of a bird (possibly a woodpecker) on a tree branch. Beautifully carved, eye inlaid with black horn. Two parts fit snugly, beautiful warm patina, darker porous areas as is usual with staghorn. Signed EISAI on the back - for information on this rare Asakusa artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 361. Diameter 1 1/2 inches.

Old sake bottle of strong conical shape with a short neck and everted rim.
Underneath the beautiful milky feldspar glaze a cobalt bue and black sketch-like drawing of sprigs of bamboo. Bottom glazed brown, as is typical for this ware. Mingei.

Most likely Ofuke (or Ofukei) ware, made near Nagoya, Japan.
Edo period, circa 1800
H ca. 6 x diam at bottom ca. 5.5 in.

Ofukei has a historical relation to Seto ware...

18th century netsuke of a reclining shishi with its head turned to the right, its mouth wide open as it bites its rear paw (probably tries to take out something stuck between its pads). Unusual posture, very strong early piece, eyes inlaid with dark horn, a loose ball in its mouth, superb oversized powerful paws, excellent hairwork (see its bushy tail and mane), beautiful slightly convex (not flat) bottom...

The size of Bowl 6 5/8" Dia x 2" High. Japanese Ko Imari Porcelain Bowl. The bowl is bit larger than regular Namasu bowl. The bowl has the unusual design of archer sitting at the front of Japanese house with wave design. Arrow hit dead eye center. There are two sections divided by gold decoration of dragon with flower design around. The condition of bowl excellent, no chip, no crack and no hairline...

Shrine with the very rare image of the death of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, called nehan-zu, and his entrance into the state or perfect peace, called nirvana or nehan. The Buddha lays stretched out on a rectangular lotus base, his head resting on his right arm. Although normally in nehan-zu one will see gathered around the bed 52 kinds of beings, human and animals mourning the Buddha, there are none present in this zushi. From the ceiling of the case hangs a curtain of sorts...

19th netsuke of two Tatebina - a male and female doll figures displayed during Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), which starts on the 3rd day of the 3rd month. Of standing, flattened form with intentionally simplified doll faces and superbly incised floral patterns on the robes, nice wear and patina. Signed HOICHI on the back - for information on this excellent carver from Hojitsu school see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 476...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes standing wearing only a cloth skirt and carrying a large log on his back...

Early 19th century netsuke depicting a Chinese elder holding a drum and a striker in his hands, and two karako (Chinese boys) clinging to his coat. Excellent carving with wonderful detailed faces (see the teeth of the elder), nice flow to the lines of their robes, great incised textile patterns. Superb patina with fine sheen, beautiful wear. Height 1 7/8 inches.