An eye-catching combination of brown-black colors and old expertly applied gold repairs on a classic Japanese E-Karatsu tea bowl dating from the middle of the Edo-Period (1603-1868).

Like many pottery traditions in Japan, Karatsu takes its name from the city where it originated. As early as the 15th century Korean potters heavily influenced the development of this form—helping to endow it with the earthy, simple, and natural qualities it is so appreciated for...

Fabulous Taisho Period c.1920 iron lantern. Repapered and electric source added. Very art deco. 10" tall by 9" in diameter. Ask for shipping quote from California.

Expertly executed noh mask carved out of cypress wood. Okina, among all Noh masks, the Okina (old man) mask is considered particularly sacred and has been at times treated as the embodiment of god, bringing longevity and prosperity to families. C.1920. In silk bag. Great condition. Ask for shipping quote.

An antique Japanese single section Kimono Tansu (chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Front corner reinforcements on all drawer fronts with two side handles on each side for carrying this tansu from room to room. Constructed using thick straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Early Meiji Era (1868-1880)

Dimensions: 36 1/2" Wide by 37 3/8" High by 17 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite stye handles. 5 exterior drawers for storage and organizing with 2 sliding doors behind which store records and books were kept. Hinged door secures 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden away. Horizontal side slats provide strength and a visual design element complimenting the sliding door slats...

Rather unusual decent size 19th century staghorn netsuke of a horse appearing from a dried gourd that has a rope tied around its waist. According to a Japanese legend Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Cleverly and elegantly carved piece with great face, mane and front legs...

19th century netsuke of a karako (Chinese boy) with a flower in his hand standing by a tall floor screen decorated with a dragon in flight among clouds. Very nice carving, beautiful light staining, pleasant wear and patina. Tiny old chip to rim on the top of the screen. Formerly in Mary Louise O’Brien collection (Sotheby’s NY, September 17, 1981, lot 153. Height 1 3/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke with multimetal top and wooden bowl. The top is inlaid with an actor wearing a mask and holding an open fan in his hand seated next to an assembly of stacked shallow boxes. Superb quality work with silver and gold inlays, excellent depiction of different designs on his robe and boxes, in great condition. The box is made of shakudo (an alloy of copper and gold) with its characteristic black patina resembling lacquer)...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a crouching puppy about to pounce. Strong early piece with unusual posture, excellently captured facial expression and chunkiness of a young pup, wonderful hairwork. Eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age line along its back, superb wear and patina. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 1 1/4 inches.

19th century kagamibuta netsuke with iron lid inlaid with multimetal old torn fan and iron tetsubin (tea kettle) in a shape of a pig, its handle of twisted gold wire, and 2 drum strikers incised on the plate. Elegant design in Japanese taste, crisp work, beautiful patina on the lid and the bowl. Metal swinging loop on the back for hanging. Recently deaccessioned from the Framingham History Center, Massachusetts, where it has been part of the collection since 1923...

19th century Asakusa school staghorn / bone netsuke carved as 2 sprays of fungus growing on a tree stump. Superb elegant carving in Japanese taste, excellent rendition of fungus head textures. Very clever design, excellent wear and patina on the surface. Height 2 1/2 inches.

19th century netsuke depicting Ashinaga seated next to a basket, his absurdly long legs raising higher than his head, wearing a skirt, a short European jacket and tiger skin pants. In Japanese legends he is often accompanied by Tenaga (long arms) whom he puts on his back and goes fishing. Very nice work, wonderful smiling face, buttons are inlaid with horn, pleasant wear and patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a blind masseur working on a client who appears to be a scholar wearing glasses and leering as he looks through a shunga (erotic book) edition. Wonderful carving with great faces, beautiful textile lines, rich warm patina. Signed HOMIN on the bottom - for information on this pupil of Meikeisai Hojitsu see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 487. Height 1 3/16 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a theatrical mask of O-Beshimi skillfully carved in characteristic ittobori (one cut) style typical for the Hida school. Pupils are inlaid in brass, golden paing highlights, excellent rendition of facial expression, wonderful mellow patina. Signed RYOSEI (alternative reading is Ryusho) on the back. Height 2 inches.

19th century netsuke carved out of kurumi (natural walnut shell) with a reserve on the front showing a face of a tengu hatching from an egg. Tengu are mythological: creatures half men, half birds, they are usually depicted as goblins and are considered to be first-class fighters. Nice carving, black and red highlights. Fantastic deep warm brown patina, signed NIKO by himotoshi - this rare artist who seems to have specialized in using walnuts is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p...

18th century netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a monk’s robe and a leaf cape and skirt, looking to his left and supporting a double gourd on his shoulders. Netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted...

18th century netsuke of a reclining monkey, its front paws and upper body resting on a large chestnut. Very strong early piece, great thoughtful face, excellent incised and etched hair, wonderful detailing of its fingers and toes. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, warm yellow patina (darker on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono), large and deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Length 1 15/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of a bamboo shoot containing a hollow section with anabori (cavern carving) of the Seven Sages of the bamboo grove looking at an open scroll. (see the detail on the first photo), The inside is almost impossible to photograph, but all the sages are there, need a flashlight even to see them. Very clever joke on the usual depiction of the sages being placed among bamboo stalks, not inside them...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a man with a horn on his head, bent under the weight of a richly dressed woman on his back. The subject of the netsuke is Ikkaku Sennin (single horn Sage) carrying princess Sendarama on his back - according to Japanese legend, he grew angry with the Rain Dragons and sealed them away in a cave, causing a drought. Beautiful Indian princess was sent to tempt him and when he could not hold on to his chastity vow, he lost his magical powers, and the rain returned...

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.

18th century netsuke of a dog with its front paws on a large ball, all on a flat base. Strong early piece, wonderful face, beautiful wear and patina, a lot of compressed dust in crevices, of characteristic 18th century triangular section, old age lines. Height 1 7/16 inches.

Asa (hemp) noren (shop curtain) with "Mitsui" which is a logo of a noted general trading company and was a successful kimono textile dealer in Edo period. Both warp and weft are hand-plied and all hand-sewn. In good condition and has some wear on the selvedge from heavy use and washing. Late 19th early 20th century. W:144cm, L:132cm

A fine bronze brush pot decorated with the Rakan Handaka Sonja holding the begging bowl in gilt takazogan, in a combination of high relief and incised landscape with banana leaves and flowers. Gilt top rim. Incised signature on the Kyoto Kumagai zo (made by Kumagai). H. 9,5 x D 6,5 cm. Meiji period (1868-1912) . Very good condition.

18th century netsuke of a reclining sarumawashi - traveling monkey showman - obliviously smiling in his sleep while his pet steals from a basket behind the back of its trainer. Unusually substantial and heavy, excellent carving capturing facial expressions of both characters. Classic design, differently sized deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, netsuke of triangular section characteristic for the period, old age lines...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a baby boy crawling on his hands and knees, wearing a bib tied on his back. Excellent rendition of body and limbs showing baby fat, great face, hair knots are inlaid with dark horn. Very beautiful warm brown staining, pleasant patina, overall in excellent condition. Length 1 13/16 inches.

Early 19th century wooden netsuke of seated Hotei with karako (Chinese boy) standing next to him. Hotei is one of the 7 Gods of Good Luck and incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future, and is liked by children...

19th century wooden netsuke depicting standing Hotei (one of the 7 Gods of Good Luck, also considered to be the incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future) with a peach in one hand, and the other hand resting on his voluminous belly. Nice quality carving - see his face with a slight smile and beautiful flow of his long robe. Wonderful wear and patina, very pleasant feel of age. Signed SHIGEKAZU on the back - the artist is listed on p. 946 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR S...

19th century 2-toned ichii (yew wood) netsuke of Hotei (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, who is considered to be an incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future) carrying his bag on the back suspended by a stick across his shoulder. Very good quality carving - see facial expression with a wide smile and wonderful flow of his robe. Netsuke is skillfully carved in characteristic Hida school ittobori (one cut) style with clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piec...

Antique Japanese Art Deco bronze and silver figure of a parrot sitting on a holly branch. Elegant simplified lines and form with swooping tail and copper color eyes. In two sections. Signed by the artist, Tanshо̄ Inoue. He was famous for his Art Deco bronze work during the Taisho Period and a member of Tokyo Chukinkai (Tokyo Cast Bronze Craftman's Association).

探勝作 Tanshо̄ saku "Made by Tanshо̄"

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 15 3/4" hi...

18th century netsuke of a wild boar sleeping on a bed of leaves. Classic early piece, excellent carving of the body bulk resting on a heap of elongated leaves with a maple leaf in front of it, old age lines. Very pleasant wear to the surface from more than 200 years of handling, beautiful yellow patina (especially on the bottom from wear against the silk of kimono), of characteristic 18th century triangular section. Variously sized large himotoshi consistent with age, wonderful tranquil facial e...

Late 18th to early 19th century netsuke of a boy seated on a huge bag and holding a double gourd in his hands. Strong early carving with very good detailing - see the flying sleeve, different textile patterns on an old patched bag and euphoric expression on the boy’s face. Old age lines, beautiful wear and patina turning deep yellow. Signed YOSHINAGA in oval reserve on the bottom - for information on this brilliant artist see p. 1239 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES b...

18th century netsuke of a cat resting on a large abalone shell. It is uncommon to see cats in netsuke. Finely carved, great expression on its face, beautiful flow to the bumps on abalone, superb wear to the surface, warm yellow patina (darker on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono). Differently sized himotoshi typical for 18th century netsuke, with larger one being able to accommodate a knot. Old age lines, overall in great condition. Excellent early piece. Length 1 7/8 inch...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a puppy reclining inside a winnowing basket. Wonderful depiction of its chunky body and mouth open in delight, eyes are double inlaid with light and dark horn, fur is incised and etched with ink, beautiful patina. Signed NOBUMASA on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 835. Length 1 3/8 inches.

19th century netsuke of Edo omiyage (gifts from Tokyo) including a straw bundle with clam shells, a pouch inscribed Kaminari Okoshi and containing sweetened puffed rice cookies from Asakusa, a necklace of so-called donguri (acorn) sweets, a toy whistle, a small shallow box, the back of the netsuke with a round box inscribed Omori Karashizuke Yamamoto (mustard marinated pickles from Yamamoto of Omori). Extremely well carved with minute details - see the delicate texture of a thin bamboo branch wi...

19th century netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is solid silver with medium relief coiled dragon with fiercely open mouth and flames issuing from its body. Superb quality metalwork - see its face, claws and crisply incised differentiated scales, touches of differently colored enamels. Warm patina, beautiful bowl with stable old age line, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Very powerful piece. Diameter 1 13/16 inches.

An antique Japanese Kanban signboard of a Sake (rice wine) brewery maker. Hand carved out of a hardwood and finished in a gold gilt with black lacquer in the back. 2 stylized opposing birds and an arrow hitting a bullseye target decorate this sign that was made to depict a celebratory sake cask.

Age: Meiji Era (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 24" Wide by 25" High by 4 1/4" Deep