Tall zushi or Buddhist temple shrine, housing the wooden figure of the standing Buddha Amida, Buddha of the Western Paradise. Both his hands in mudra. He is standing on a multi-tiered hexagonal base, decorated with flowers. His eyes inset in glass or crystal, which are hardly visible due to old layers of re-lacquering and soot.

The baldachin decorated with double family crest...

Very unusual 19th century marine netsuke of obihasami type, the upper hook carved as leaves of a vine holding a long pod, and the lower hook as a snail starting to climb up the body of the netsuke. The hooks at the top and bottom of the piece go around the edges of obi - a sash holding a kimono. Extraordinary clever and subtle piece in Japanese taste, amazing rendition of the soft body of the mollusc. Excellent patina, the best netsuke of that type that I ever had. Length 4 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke of a buffalo on a base, its head turned back. Unusual and wonderful stylization of the creature - see its upturned snout and raised ears and horns. Beautifully carved, excellent staining, superb wear and patina, old age lines. Height 1 5/16 inches

19th century marine netsuke depicting Ashinaga (long legs) wearing South Sea Islander’s sarong as he sits hugging his absurdly long legs. In Japanese legends he is often accompanied by Tenaga (long arms) whom he puts on his back and goes fishing. Very nice work, beautiful wear to staining, pleasant patina. Signed TOMOYUKI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 1167 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 3/4 inches.

Good size 18th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) in a long robe and a leaf cape, carrying on his shoulder a Chinese boy who plays a short trumpet. The netsuke is probably a joke on the subject of bokudo, which is typically depicted as a boy seated on the back of a buffalo and playing a flute - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood....

Tall slender vase, slightly narrowed in the waist, with a square shoulder and short wide neck and mouth.
The finely ribbed body of middle brown coarse clay is covered with two elongated patches of thin, translucent reddish-brown glaze. The lip with splashes of greenish glaze, on the inside gray glaze.

Karatsu ware...

Many pieces made at Zhang zhou yao south China were exported to Europe in 17th century and they were called "Swatow ware". The main theme is bird and flower, very fantastic. Certification: written by Noriki Shimazu the famous researcher of Asian antiques in Japan. Size: 28.0cm(D) 5.3cm(H)

Height: 29.5 cm (11.8 in)
Width: 11 cm (4.4 in)

Quality Chinese blue and white porcelain vase; depicts Elizas with a nobleman under a plantain flanked by flag-waving boys; double circle to the base; good condition

Height: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)
Width: 3.8 cm (1.6 in)
Depth: 2 cm (0.8 in)

Early Chinese carved toggle depicting a resting scholar; converted to a netsuke in the 19th century; wonderful honey-coloured patina; age lines; good condition

Height: 3.3 cm (1.3 cm)
Width: 3.3 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 1.9 cm (0.7 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated nobleman holding his fan; excellent workmanship, patina and form; signed Masayuki; good condition

Height: 3 cm (1.2 in)
Width: 3.4 cm (1.3 in)
Depth: 2.2 cm (0.8 in)

Japanese wooden netsuke of a seated mask maker; shows a critical expression observing his work; excellent workmanship and form; signed Ryuraku, good condition

18th Century Chinese Export Nanking design Porcelain Spoon Rest, Spoon Tray, later part of Quinlong period, late 1700's, 4 3/4" x 3 3/4" wide, 5/8" high, Tall building along the river bank with trees and rocks within typical wide high gallery fluted rim. Gilt finish on the rim area is worn in some areas.

18th century netsuke of an emaciated sennin seated on a base wearing a tattered robe and a leaf cape and holding a staff with a bundle of his possessions tied to its top, and with a dog affectionately leaning onto the man. The subject is Sennin Izenshun (Chinese Wei Shan-Chun), who took good care of a black dog that had come to his hermitage, and one day the dog turned into a dragon and took the sennin to heaven...

19th century netsuke of poet Hitomaro wearing his official coat and ritual hat, leaning on a low table thoughtfully contemplating the world as if seeking inspiration for one of his poems. Kakinomoto no Hitomaro was a famous poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka Period (7th/8th centuries), and is considered one of the Thirty Six Poetry Immortals of Japan. Wonderful carving with great intense face, excellent staining, wear and patina. Signed RYOKOSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...

19th century netsuke of a Buddhist priest and famous 14th century poet Ikkyu seated next to a human skull and pointing at it as a reminder that all living things must ultimately die. Uncommon subject, wonderful smiling face, great depiction of the scull, nicely detailed (see the short Buddhist rosary around his right hand), beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 7/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century netsuke of a cloth Daruma doll with wonderful inquisitive face and a shaped opening on the back with anabori (cavern carving) of a palace with a procession of scholars crossing a bridge and pavilions in the back. The cavern is carved unusually deep, and pavilions in the back are very well defined, almost impossible to photograph properly. Excellent face with horn inlaid convex eyes, beautiful stippling defining the texture of its cloth body, wonderful functional shape...

Early 19th century netsuke carved as a Japanese martial arts MEN (kendo helmet) resting on a DŌ (breast protector) surrounded by a pile of seashells. Unique subject, a bit of a zen puzzle waiting for an answer. The helmet with a metal grill (men-gane) is used to protect the face and has a series of hard leather and fabric flaps to protect the throat and sides of the neck and shoulders...

Late 18th to early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a puppy wearing a cloth collar, playing with an abalone shell. Strong early piece with amazingly lifelike facial expression and wonderful fur texture worn on protruding parts. Pleasantly chunky, eyes are inlaid with black horn, old stable age lines, wonderful wear and patina turning honey color on the bottom. Deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Excellent strong netsuke. Length 2 1/16 inches.