Catalog (1366)

19th century netsuke carved as Amida Buddha sitting with his hands in jo-in mudra - hand gesture signifying concentration. Amida (Amitabha) - "The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life” - is the principal buddha in Pure Land Buddhism. Excellent carving of his facial expression of quiet meditation, beautiful rhythm to the flow of the folds of his robe, remnants of gold lacquer on his hair. Wonderful staining and patina, very pleasant to hold. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape carved with an image of Fukurokuju (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune) pulling a fox costume mask onto his head and holding a 9-tailed whip in his hand. Whip design continues on the back showing an attendant boy, one hand raised in amazement, the other holding a fan. Very unusual subject of a Lucky God as an actor, the whip is a clear reference to a mythical nine-tailed fox. Beautifully carved, complete undercutting of the window frame lattice on t...

19th century netsuke of a fresh tangerine on top of a dried persimmon containing a minute landscape with houses and trees. Superbly carved elegant piece in Japanese taste, wonderful mellow patina and beautiful wear consistent with age. Great depiction of skin textures. Signed MASAYOSHI on the bottom - Sato Masayoshi was a brilliant artist, listed on p. 742 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Elegant old piece in excellent condition. Length 1 11/16 inch...

19th century boxwood netsuke depicting a sitting man who is about to sneeze. The scene represents a street entertainer, in this case a man who tickles himself with a stick and sneezes for the delight of the audience. Excellent carving with unusual absurdly long and narrow head, perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully stained, wonderful patina. Height 1 3/8 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a standing blind masseur with a staff in his hands and a habitual bump on his head. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and then wood starts showing, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Wonderful elegant carving with fantastic sour face and clean lines of his robe, rich warm patina. Height 2 1/8 inches.

Early 19th century wooden netsuke of sitting man with a folded fan in his lap. The figure probably represents a traveling street entertainer - a storyteller. Superbly expressive face left unlacquered to allow for detailed carving, the rest of the netsuke is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and then wood starts showing, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Very smart use of lacquering technique, beautiful wear to the surface, really nice feel of ...

19th century Satsuma ceramic vase with tear drop body and narrow neck with painted enamel decoration of a seated rakan (one of the 18 original disciples of the Buddha), his raised hand holding a bowl, Benten - the only female among the 7 Gods of Good Fortune - seated next to him, and an attendant boy with box of offerings kneeling between them. Extraordinary high quality detailed painting - see fine depiction of their faces and supremely fine rich clothes with numerous patterns. Raised gold deco...

19th century wood and metal kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with patinated bronze top inlaid with gold, silver and bronze and depicting a puppy cautiously touching a turtle with its paw by a bamboo fence with flowering morning glory vine wrapped around it. Wonderfully captured inquisitive nature of the puppy, beautiful golden dots representing moss. Excellent textured wooden bowl with carved floriform fitting . Diameter of the metal disk 1 5/16 inches, bowl diameter 1 11/16 inches.

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) Chinese scholar small jadeite seal of round section with ball shaped finial containing a hole for hanging. Wonderful piece appropriate for scholar’s desk. The bottom is carved with two raised characters, old dried red seal paste in the grooves. Delicately white/green natural untreated jadeite with darker green areas, beautiful finish to the surface. Height 1 5/8 inches, diameter 3/8 inches.

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) Chinese scholar agate seal of cylindrical shape. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for scholar’s desk, pleasant finish to the stone. The bottom is crisply carved with four raised characters, old red seal paste in the grooves. Beautiful stone of orange color with subtle play of lighter colored veins. old dried sea paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually p...

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) century Chinese glass seal of square section. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface. The bottom is carved with four sunken characters, old dried seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Height 1 9/16 inches, 5/8 inches square.

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) century Chinese glass seal of square section. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface. The bottom is carved with four raised characters, old dried seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Couple of chips by the bottom as seen on photos, do not affect the...

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) century Chinese glass seal of square section. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface. The bottom is carved with two raised characters, old dried sea paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Height 1 1/4 inches, 3/8 inches square.

Late Qing Dynasy (1880s 10 1911) century Chinese glass cylindrical seal. Wonderful simple piece appropriate for a scholar’s desk, beautiful transparent glass, very pleasant finish to the surface. The bottom is carved with two raised characters, old dried sea paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Height 2 3/16 inches, diameter 5/8 inches.

19th century Chinese bronze seal with rectangular base and stele shaped finial with a hole for hanging. Nice piece with very good casting and chiseling, beautiful patina on the surface, raised knob on one side indication the orientation of the seal. Deeply carved 4 characters on the base, traces of old red seal paste in the grooves. Very pleasant to the touch, wonderful piece for scholar’s desk. The impression of the seal is shown on Enlargement 1 (photo is flipped left to right to present the...

Unusual 19th century small Chinese soapstone double seal of square section, one with sunken, the other with raised characters. First catalogue photo includes images of both printing surfaces flipped left to right to show what the imprint of the seals will look like. Inscribed with 2 characters on the side. Nice buff colored stone, crisp carving of the characters, old traces of red seal paste in the grooves of the characters. Overall in excellent condition, very nice scholar’s object. Length 7/...

19th century Chinese soapstone seal of classic square section carved with 2 sunken characters in archaic script. First catalogue photo includes the image of the printing surface flipped left to right to show what the imprint of the seal will look like. Beautiful yellow to red to brown stone with rich play of colors giving depth to the surface, inscribed with 2 characters on the side, marked on the top with a character indicating the orientation of the seal, old dried red seal paste in the groove...

19th century Chinese soapstone seal of classic square section carved with raised characters. First catalogue photo includes the image of the printing surface flipped left to right to show what the imprint of the seal will look like. Beautiful buff to red to brown stone with attractive veining giving depth to the surface, old dried red seal paste in the grooves. Overall in good condition, nice scholar’s object. Height 1 1/8 inches, base 13/16 square.