Catalog (1368)

19th century netsuke in square manju (rice cake) shape with relief carving of a man wearing a straw hat and holding a spouted kettle by a handle, falling maple leaves on the back. of a samurai subduing a rough looking man. the subject is Tadamori capturing an oil thief. Taira no Tadamori (lived 1096 – 1153) was the samurai who presided over the rise of the Taira clan: he was sent to fight a what was thought to be a ghost wondering the temple grounds, only to discover that it was a man stealing...

19th century metal and wood kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke. Patinated bronze top with inlaid and carved design of a Saizo dancer playing tsuzumi (a hand drum) by a pine sapling and with the moon partially obscured by cloud in the background. Saizo dancers are usually attending Manzai dancers during New Year celebrations. Wonderful quality inlays and detailing - see the ropes of the drum and a sword sticking out of his clothes, copper inlays and gilding. Beautiful patina on both metal and wood. ...

19th century wooden netsuke of standing Saigyo Hoshi with his attributes of a large hat and a staff as he looks upward toward the summit of Mount Fuji. Saigyo Hoshi was a member of the Fujiwara clan, a poet and a priest, as well as a military advisor to the Shogun Yoritomo. Netsuke is beautifully carved out of kurogaki (black persimmon wood) with excellent face and wonderful flow to the lines of the robe. Wear consistent with age, beautiful characteristic sheen to the surface it the wood. Height...

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced decoration of a tiger frolicking by a thick stem of bamboo with leaves, 2 sides presenting back and front views. Delightful design, good work, wonderful face of the creature, gilded highlights, very pleasant feel of age. Height 2 15/16 inches.

Early 19th century ebony netsuke of a shishi (Buddhist lion) sitting foursquare on a base, its head turned to the right. Like any dark object does not photograph well. Wonderful netsuke carved with confidence and great detail - see its alert face, bushy tail, well defined ribs and paws. Wonderful sense of volume, beautiful lustre unique to ebony. Height 1 5/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting a a centipede wrapped around an arrow. Unusual and elegant piece, extraordinary crisp work - see the head and body segments of the creature and fine feathers of the arrow. Gilding, finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar, in great condition. Length 3 3/4 inches.

Old Chinese scholar’s rock in a shape of a dramatic snow covered mountain with numerous caves and crevices. Gives wonderful impression of immense energy of the mountain. Zhaoqing limestone of off-white color with darker inclusions and pinkish tinged areas. Superb scholar’s object, beautiful patina on the surface of the stone, flattened bottom, fitted rosewood stand. Height with stand 3 1/2 inches, length with stand 8 1/4 inches.

Very unusual and rare early 19th century Japanese cloisonne plate with flowers in the center surrounded by a border of stylized clouds in cavetto and 3 dragons chasing each other along the wide rim, flower design on the bottom and 3 scrolled feet. Superbly made in creative imitation of Chinese Ming Dynasty cloisonne (see the mischievous faces of the dragons), very rich visually, all metal wires and surfaces including feet were gilded (expected wear), beautiful enameling, some original pitting to...

19th century wooden netsuke of sitting Okame snickering as she fondles a long stem of a mushroom in her hand. The netsuke is definitely of shunga type with not so subtle sexual connotation. Wonderfully carved (see her endearingly ugly face, hair arrangement and flowing lines of her kimono), beautiful patina, little nicks here and there. Height 1 13/16 inches.

19th century netsuke carved as a cluster of 9 theatrical masks, most probably all from the same play. Excellent carving, great faces, beautiful staining. Hollowed inside in the manner of ryusa netsuke, wonderful wear and patina.. Length 1 11/16 inches.

19th century Japanese kozuka (sword knife) handle depicting Ebisu - one the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of fishing - happily hanging out in a humble boat by reeds in a stream. Wonderful crisp work - see his happy smiling face, texture of his hat and finely done reed leaves, in excellent condition. Signed SHOGETSUSAI HARUYUKI on the back - the artist is a listed 19th century Japanese metalsmith. Formerly in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, collection number in red on the b...

Very unusual 19th century Hirado Japanese porcelain okimono of a swimming koi fish. Superb crisp realistic modeling, wonderful face with beautifully sculpted whiskers, extraordinary depiction of its differentiated scales, clever arrangement of its lower fins providing for a stable display, in perfect condition. Excellent glaze with beautiful deeper color where it is pooling in crevices. Length 8.5 inches.

Pair of early 19th century Japanese sword menuki depicting lobsters on a bed of sea weeds. One menuki has Daikoku mallet on top (stands for wealth), and the other a character meaning long life. Excellent work with great detailing - see various textures of the shells. Bronze with coppery patina, gilded water drops on the sea weeds, overall in great condition. Length 1 9/16 inches.

18th century painted wood netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a tattered robe and holding a bamboo stick in his hand and a double gourd on his shoulder. Netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin - a Chinese sage who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Made in saishiki technique - the wood is covered with gesso, which in turn is painted in bright colors. Strong early piece with excellent carving of his wonderful smiling face, stands on its own on fl...

19th century black coral netsuke of an old pine log with inlaid bronze spider spinning its web on one end and a dragonfly caught in another web on the other side of the log. The material is polished branch of umimatsu - in Japanese it literally means SEA PINE, and describes species of black coral with dense texture, concentric growth rings, and amber colored inclusions in the black material. Very clever design, superbly made gilded bronze spider and dragonfly, extraordinary detailing, beautiful ...

Late 19th century netsuke of resting Hotei leaning on his bag of gifts and holding a fan in his hands. Hotei was a historical Chinese monk allegedly living in Wuyue kingdom in the 10th century and known for his jolly nature and love of children, he is considered to be an incarnation of Buddha Maitreya - the Buddha of the Future. Excellent strong carving, great face, beautiful depiction of the folds of his robe, wonderful wear and patina. Signed HOGYOKU on the bottom - probably the artist is Hogy...

19th century netsuke depicting sitting Ashinaga (long legs) wearing 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, pleasant wear and patina turning honey color on the back where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono. Height 1 1/2 inches.

Unusually sculptural 18th century Indian bronze shrine in a form of a courtyard set around a Shiva lingam: Shiva and his wife Parvati, each one seated with one leg pendant, their backs against an ornate probhavali with sun and moon symbols, their elephant-headed son Ganesha, Nandi the bull of Shiva, and Naga (hooded cobra) rising protectively over the lingam. Very nice devotional sculpture with earnest casting and detailing, good patina from being touched during worship, a lot of compressed sand...