Catalog (1389)

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba made in a shape of two confronting SHU - Japanese flute instruments for use in Shinto ceremony and consisting of bamboo reeds forming a circular wind chamber. The lower parts of the flutes are inlaid with pine designs in gold. Very clever design in Japanese taste, wonderful quality inlay, some rusting as can be seen in photos, great feel of age. Height 2.85 inches (72.4 mm).

19th century Japanese mixed metal obidome (sash ornament) in a form of an egret and a crow resting on a fisherman’s boat. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, it is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Excellent design, superb quality work, wonderful quality patinas and gilding, some wear as to be expected. The back and loops appear to be silver, marked indistinctly with a hallmark, which most proba...

Vintage Chinese sculpture of a resting horse with its head raised and turned back, carved out of solid amethyst. Beautiful stone ranging from typical amethyst purple to rock crystal transparent, natural lines in the material. Very good quality carving capturing the essence of the creature, excellent finish, very pleasant to hold. Length 2.85 inches.

Taisho period (1920s) Japanese pottery Bizen ware chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) with tapering body. Wonderful free potting, excellent play of colors on the surface, beautiful patina, very nice sandy particles in clay, impressed mark of the potter on the bottom. Later resin lid lined with silvery leaf paper on the inside. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Great piece in excellent condition. Height with cover 3 inches.

Taisho period (1920s) wood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its top decorated in lacquer with uprooted flower with leaves and roots. Elegant object in Japanese taste, the body is made out of kiri (Paulownia tree) wood, perfect lacquer work, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 1.9 inches.

Glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a form of tombodama bead in barrel shape with 5 bunnies frolicking in the snow by spruce trees during a snowfall. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Beautifully made, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.69 inches.

Late 19th century ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) made out of a section of a spotted bamboo including the node. Elegant clever design, beautiful patina. Height 0.66 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a shape of a die with dots highlighted in black ink. Nice quality work, beautiful warm patina, some wear. Cube side 0.42 inches.

Unusual late 19th century Japanese fossilized pink coral ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in barrel shape with natural features in the material. Nicely made, large central hole, pleasant patina. Height 0.73 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with red and gold lacquer decoration of squares containing all different scenes with landscapes and flowers. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, very good lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, overall in excellent condition. Length 4.36 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with black and gold lacquer decoration of a scholarly landscape with a bridge, huts, trees, torii gates, observation tower and sailing boats. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, very good lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, overall in excellent condition. Length 4.54 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with lacquer decoration of different objects used in tea ceremony. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, excellent lacquer work, wonderful piece in Japanese taste, loss to 3 shortest teeth on one side (does not distract from the piece), otherwise in great condition. Length 4.23 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with gold lacquer decoration of various meadow flowers and grasses on dark olive lacquer background. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, excellent lacquer work, wonderful piece in Japanese taste, overall in excellent condition. Length 4.21 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with lacquer decoration of two quail among grasses and flowers. Beautifully made, excellent lacquer work, wonderful piece in Japanese taste, in excellent condition. Signed on the back with 2 characters reading TORIN. Length 3.4 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with carved and lacquered design on different reserves containing origami toys and flowers. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, very good lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, overall in excellent condition. Length 4.25 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with colored and gold lacquer decoration of chrysanthemum and peony flowers, and maple leaves blown by the wind. Beautifully made, wonderful lacquer work, excellent piece in Japanese taste, overall in great condition. Length 3.39 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with pierced and gold lacquer decoration of daises, mother of pearl inlays. Beautifully made, great lacquer work, wonderful piece in Japanese taste, overall in great condition. Length 3.63 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese wooden kushi (hair comb) with black and gold lacquer decoration of a magpie on a gnarled prunus tree, and the back with pine saplings. Beautifully made out of dense wood allowing for fine teeth, excellent lacquer work, wonderful piece in Japanese taste, in great condition. Length 4 inches.