Catalog (1391)

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...

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 netsuke in manju pillow shape carved on the front with a scholarly landscape of Mount Fuji partially obscured by clouds, a wide bay with a sail boat and pines, and a lower part depicting 3 nasubi (eggplants) of different sizes. Excellent design in Japanee taste, superb quality carving, wonderful mellow patina turning honey color, wear to the back. Signed GYOKUHOSAI followed by a seal (rather worn) on the back - the artist is well known for that kind of work and is discussed on p. 42...

19th century netsuke of half of a mokugye - a Buddhist gong in a shape of a fish with its head touching its tail, and a curled lotus leaf with a stem resting on the gong. Unusual combination of Buddhist symbols, great carving of fins and scales, leaf texture, eyes of the fish are inlaid with black horn. Expertly stained, beautiful warm patina with wonderful wear. Excellent netsuke. Length 1 3/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century wooden netsuke carved as a Buddhist monk (recognizable by its shaved head) fast asleep, lower half of its body inside a huge Buddhist gong. The subject is a metaphor for a failure to reach enlightenment - instead of seeking and understanding the profound power of the gong’s message, the monk uses it as a sleeping pad. Rare, possibly unique treatment of the subject - usually the gong is small and is used as a pillow by a monk. Wonderful carving, great depiction of dragons c...

19th century netsuke carved in a shape of a bamboo section. Very simple elegant design in Japanese taste with clean lines, himotoshi is formed by central peg that has a hole in its back part through which a cord goes. Beautifully carved natural features of the plant, excellent patina. Signed RYUSHO on the back - the artist is listed on p. 901 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1 13/16 inches.

Unusual early 19th century large wooden netsuke of dried fish - probably salmon. Strong early carving with exaggerated rough features, beautiful dense fruitwood with superb patina, in great condition. Signed SHOJU TSUKURU (made by Shoju) on the back - carvers from the Shoju family are listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 524, numbers 2451-2463). Judging by carving style the piece was probably carved by Shoju IX or Shoju X. Length 8 1/8 inches (20.6 cm).

19th century boxwood netsuke of snickering Hotei covering his mouth with an open fan and holding kakhara in the other. Kakhara is an implement for a wandering monk or pilgrim a Buddhist rattle to scare off small creatures like snakes and insects, and thus prevent the carrier from stepping on them. Hotei is one of the 7 Gods of Good Luck and is considered an incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future. Great face, excellent depiction of the flow of his robe lines, detailed carving of kakha...

18th century Indian framed watercolor of a maiden wearing rich clothes and holding a flower in one hand and what is probably a long necked perfume bottle in the other. Excellent delicate painting, superb detailing, has good presence. Old tear above her head as seen on photos, overall in very good condition. Framed and glazed, image in sight 5 1/2 x 3 3/4 inches, frame 11 5/8 x 9 1/2 inches.

19th century Japanese tsuishu (cinnabar lacquer) netsuke carved on the front with 3 scholars under a pine tree watching a cock fight, and the back with a boy feeding a chick and a hen by a peony bush, all on carved diaper ground. Metal fitting with swinging loop for hanging, some wear to lacquer, beautiful patina. Diameter 1.84 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes holding a heavy axe in his hands, and with a large sword in dragon scabbard on his back. Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) was very popular in the capital Edo. It contained numerous tales of an outlaw named Sung-Chiang and his 108 followers. Very good detailed carving, wonderful face with expression of tense concentration, beautiful staining, excellent wear and patina. Height 1.77 ...

19th century 2-toned ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a seated chubby puppy. 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 piece. Wonderful face with surprised expression, eyes are inlaid with black horn, wonderful mellow patina. Signed SUKENORI on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1048. Length 1.3 inc...

19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a standing boy wearing in shishi head piece and beating a drum with strikers. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and later wood start showing. Very well carved, excellent detailing - see the ferocious mask, old loss to the tip of the left ear, beautiful patina. Does not stand on its own, but hangs well. Height 2 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of two frogs frolicking on differently sized peony buds with stems. Wonderfull quality carving (see finely incised petals texture) carved, very beautiful warm patina. Signed GYOKUSEKI on the bottom - there is Gyokuseki listed on p. 428 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, but this is much better quality carving than his usual work, probably a different carver with the same name. Length 2 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a seated inebriated oni with a sake cup in one hand, and the other raised to his head indicating a hangover. Strong early carving, great face, inlaid pupils and horns, powerful muscular limbs. Himotoshi is formed by his legs, very good patina. Height 2 inches.

19th century small black and red Japanese lacquer 4-compartment inro with two different carved scenes of two scholars in discussion under rocks (one with waterfall cascading off it) with bamboo gracefully growing on their surfaces. Top and bottom are carved differently with peony branches with leaves and buds. Elegant dignified design, very clever and striking use of red lacquer for figures, bamboo and and some peony details. Old silk cord, in excellent condition, no cracks or losses. Height 2 ...