Catalog (1366)

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 a straw bundle containing eggplants for sale, two of them visible as the bundle is open on one side. Rarely depicted in netsuke, clever design, very nice patina. Length 2 9/16 inches.

19th century netsuke carved as a fox sitting on a base with 4-character seal bottom and scenes with lobsters and shells on the sides. This particular fox represents Inari - the benevolent and well disposed creature, being the messenger of the God of rice and harvest, as opposed to the other foxes, which in Japan are generally believed to be evil creatures. Enlargement 1 shows the seal flipped left to right presenting what the imprint of the seal will look like. Nice design, excellent carving of ...

18th century netsuke of sennin (Chinese sage) standing with one foot raised, clad in tiger skin skirt and holding in his hands tassels that support a large woven straw hat on his back. Strong early piece with superb smiling face, beautiful flow to the lines of his skirt. Wonderful wear to the surface from more than 200 years of handling, beautiful yellow patina turning light honey color on the back from wear against the silk of kimono, old age lines. Ivory of triangular section typical for 18th ...

Very unusual 19th century netsuke representing a bird in flight. It may be a swallow, but I am not sure. Wonderful spirited carving capturing the essence of the creature with its swiftness, beautiful face, eyes are double inlaid with horn, excellent depiction of different feathers. Great wear and patina, old age lines. Length 2 1/4 inches.

19th century marine netsuke in a form of a woven mat with a bunch of grapes with vines and leaves, and a snail exploring them. The piece is probably carved by a member of Asakusa school with characteristic detailing and staining. The netsuke is hollowed inside, so can be classified as ryusa type. Excellent carving, characteristic beautiful sheen to the surface, wonderful wear and patina. Length 1 1/2 inches.

19th century tall walrus tusk netsuke of standing Gama sennin (Chinese sage) with his usual companion - magic frog - climbing onto his head. Beautifully stylized carving with oversized hands, great face and beautiful flow of the robe. Old age lines, excellent patina, overall in great condition. Signed KOSHIN on the back - the artist is listed in NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 676. Height 4 1/8 inches (103 mm).

Netsuke of a Chokwaro sennin horse appearing out of a gourd. According to a Japanese legend Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Clever design, excellent carving with great detailing - see its face, mane and front legs with delicately carved hooves. Beautiful flawless material, excellent quality etching with black ink, wonderful patina. Signed TOMOCHIKA on the bottom: looking at the carving style, inking and finish the...

Late 18th century netsuke of Rihaku seated leaning on a large wine jar with one hand and holding a wine cup in the other. Rihaku (Li Po in Chinese) was a celebrated, probably the most famous poet of China equally renown for his love of wine. Strong early carving, wonderful face and detailing of his clothes, of typical early triangular section. Wonderful feel of age, excellent patina. Height 1 1/8 inches.

Rather unusual 19th century Japanese bronze scroll weight in a form of a chestnut. Clever design in Japanese taste, superb naturalistic modeling (see perfectly worked texture of the bottom), beautiful warm brown patina, beautiful gilding, pleasantly heavy. Old collection number in red on the underside. Wonderful piece in scholar’a taste. Length 1 5/16 inches.

Early Showa period (1930s) Japanese kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) of turned wood, the top lacquered black, the bottom red. Superbly elegant object in Japanese taste with overwhelming simplicity, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 2 3/8 inches.

Unusual 19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as a kiseruzutsu - a tobacco pipe case. Simple and very clever design in Japanese taste, pleasant patina. Length 1 inch.

19th century good size angel skin coral ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of simple ball shape. Rather unusual material, nice patina on the surface, few beautiful very slight pink areas. Diameter 5/8 inches.

19th century rock crystal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in modified egg shape. Does not photograph well. All lines inside the material are not cracks, but natural features of the stone, pleasant patina on the surface. Length 1 inch.

19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with pink body and leaf and white cherry flowers. Beautiful surface, very pleasant patina, large central hole. Diameter 5/8 inches.

19th century long wooden netsuke of nyoi - a Buddhist scepter carved as a length of a reishi fungus with three fungus heads. Did not photograph well. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge, and reishi fungus represents the fabled Fungus of Immortality. Carved out of dense beautiful brown rosewood, elegant design in Japanese taste, great depiction of fungus texture, wonderful patina and excellent sheen to the surface from being handled. Himotosh...

19th century netsuke carved as a group of four seals - two of simple square section, one in a shape of a natural lotus bud stem (its stem serving as himotoshi), and one with shishi and ball finial. Elegant design in Japanese taste, bottoms are carved with raised and sunken characters in seal script and stained to resemble real seals - one of them could be a signature of the carver. Possibly made for a silk merchant - the seals resemble actual chops used for stamping silks. Great compact netsuke ...

Late 18th to early 19th century Kyoto school netsuke of a dog wearing a collar with its head turned back while resting the front of its body on a ball. Strong piece, superb carving to the last detail, fantastic hairwork, beautiful flow to its tail and bumpy spine, large eyes inlaid with dark horn. Wonderful wear and patina consistent with age, great classic netsuke. Height 1 13/16 inches.