Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (113)

This very well carved late 19th century ivory netsuke is 1 ¼” high, 2 ¼” wide and 2“ thick. It depicts an old samurai’s metal helmet decorated with shi-shi (lion) head on top. The helmet is situated on an opened paper fan. There are a dozen mice with inlaid eyes on the helmet playing and chasing each other. It seems that symbols of war and peace, the helmet and the fan, are brought together and put in their place by nibbling mice. The workmanship is just superb...

It was carved by a late Meiji period (1868~1911) artist Tozan (東山). It depicts a smiling wood cutter taking a break and tying his straw sandal lace. A sparrow is resting on his straw hat. It is 6 1/5" high, 3 7/16" wide (from the bottom) and 3" thick (from the bottom). Aside from two hair line cracks; one on his back head and one on the bottom, it is in great condition.

This late 19th century Japanese small cloisonn¨¦ vase is 3 ½ inches tall and 2 1/8 inches wide. It carries a chrysanthemum and butterfly design on a black and goldstone background. It is in good condition.

This early 19th century lacquered wood depicts a boy performing a Shi Shi dance. It is 2 inches tall. It is signed ¡°Nisai.¡± Some color is worn off; but it is in good condition.

This 19th century carved ivory netsuke of a lotus pod is 1 ¾” high, 1 5/8” wide and 1 ¼” thick. There are six holes on the bottom of the pod and six small movable seeds are inside. Aside of some hairline cracks, it is in excellent condition.

This early 19th century painted pressed horn netsuke is 2” high, 1 1/5” wide and ¾” thick. It depicts a big headed smiling man. He is wearing a kimono and sandals and is carrying a mask of Otafuku on his back. It is in excellent condition.

This interesting and finely carved Japanese ivory okimono is a mid-19th century product. It is 4 7/8” high, 2 3/8” wide and 1 ¼” thick. It depicts one adult and two youngsters engaged in the pastime of catching bugs. One boy, on the back of the adult, waves a fly swatter in his left hand while his right hand grabs at a dragonfly over his head that is trying to escape. The second boy stands next to them straining to hold up the long insect-catching bamboo pole...

This 19th century carved wood netsuke of an Otafuku (traditional female theater character) is 2 ¼” long, 1 ¾” wide and 1” thick. It was made by a well known wood netsuke carver Shuzan; his signature is on the back. Shuzan was the pupil of master netsuke carver Shugetsu. It is in excellent condition.

This very well carved and designed Japanese ivory okimono is 5 ¾ inches high, 2 ¼ inches wide and 1 ¾ inches deep (measure from the base). It depicts a Buddha standing on the back of a dragon which is rising from an ocean wave. It has great patina. There is a red maker’s mark on the bottom. Aside from an old loss which had been re-carved and polished, it is in excellent condition.

Meiji period Japanese cloisonne vases. Silver wire teardrop form. Light beige ground with bird and flower design. Good condition. H: 7 inches

The Koto is a string instrument that originated in China and came to Japan in the 7th ¨C 8th century. The Japanese Koto is a large instrument, about six feet long. This rare smaller version of Koto from Meiji Period (1868~1911) is 21 inches long, 4 inches wide and 2 ½ inches tall. It has a hollow body made from Kiri wood, underneath the body are two sound holes, one at each end. There are 13 strings which are tied over at each end of the body...

This mid 19th century, Tokyo School wood carved netsuke is 1 ¾” high, 7/8” wide and 3 /4” thick. It is not signed. It depicts a young boy wearing some kind of bib, holding his belly with both hands. It is in excellent condition.

This well carved late Meiji Period (1868~1911) wood okimono is 2 ¾” high, 3” wide and 2” thick. It depicts a sitting Hotai with big smile on his face. It is signed “Chikamitsu” and is in excellent condition.

This 19th century Japanese unsigned hardwood netsuke of JUROJIN is 2 inches tall, 1 inch wide and ¾ of inch thick. It depicts JUROJIN with both hands in his sleeves in front of him. It is in perfect condition.

The late 19th century carved wood netsuke of a mask (Daikoku) is 1 7/8” long, 1 ½” wide and 1” thick. It is in excellent condition.

This superb Japanese Meiji Period (1868~1912) oblong cloisonné plate is 8 1/8” long, 6 7/8“ wide and ½” thick. It depicts two flying cranes, peonies and chrysanthemums on a burgundy background. It is in excellent condition.

This very well made bone carving of the legendary Chinese figure Xiang Yu 項 羽 (232 BC~202BC) is a late 19th century product. Xiang Yu is popularly known in Chinese as “Xi Chu Ba Wang” 西 楚 霸 王 which means “Conqueror of Western Chu”. For more information, please refer to the entry on Xiang Yu in Wikipedia. This statue is 9" high (with carved fitted wood base is 10" high), 3 3/4" wide and 3" in depth...

This well carved 19th century wood netsuke is 1 3/8” high, 1 1/8” wide and 1” thick. It depicts a man wearing a shi-shi (lion) mask and playing a drum. Aside from two toes missing on his right foot, it is in good condition.