Catalog (1369)

19th century boxwood netsuke of a standing blind masseur leaning on his staff and with both of his feet on one geta (clog sandal) while he is pulling out a large rock lodged in the base of his other geta. Rather unusual subject, the character easily recognizable by a habitual bump on his head and oversized blind eye inlaid with horn. Perfectly captured mood of the scene, great detailing of his face and clothing, rich warm patina with beautiful staining, in excellent condition. Signed ISSHO on th...

19th century netsuke of a terrified oni protecting himself with a huge old straw hat from being pelleted by beans during a setsubun ceremony. Setsubun is performed during the New Year by throwing beans around the house to exorcise the oni. Excellent carving of its muscular limbs, wonderful distressed face, great depiction of woven hat texture and beans striking it, beautiful warm patina. Signed KOMIN in oval reserve on the back - the artist is listed on p. 664 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW T...

19th century boxwood netsuke depicting seated Zen Buddhism Patriarch Daruma wearing characteristic cape and leaning with his back on a huge octopus tentacle, his head tilted slightly to one side, with hand to ear, and a look on his face that suggests he is hearing something unusual. This netsuke likely suggests the short Kyogen farce “Tako (octopus)”: a traveling priest encounters the ghost of an octopus that was captured and killed the previous spring and described by a local villager as "h...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a boy playing with a puppy holding a length of rope, with the other end of it in the mouth of the puppy. Very good carving, great face, nice hairwork on the puppy and detailing of the clothes, wonderful wear and patina. Himotoshi (cord opening) goes through the back down to the bottom of the netsuke. Signed NAOKAZU on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 821. Height 1.23 inch...

19th century netsuke carved out of kurumi (natural walnut shell) with two panels depicting, respectively, 4 and 3 scholars around a low table heating up wine and food by the rocks under pine branches and moon among wispy clouds. Full moon and chrysanthemum design surrounding one himotoshi suggest otsukimi - a moon viewing party - traditionally held in September. Fabulous clever crisp carving, well captured quiet mood of the scenes, precisely carved diaper ground. Fantastic deep warm brown patina...

Rather unusual 18th century stag antler netsuke carved as young Yoshitsune holding naginata (a machete on a wooden shaft) as he performs a high jump over the hand of warrior monk Benkei on the Gojo Bridge. For an account of the historical encounter of Yoshitsune and Benkei at the Gojo bridge in Kyoto see H. Joly LEGEND IN JAPANESE ART, p. 82. Unusual treatment of the subject, supremely clever use of the natural shape of available carving material. Wonderful dynamic composition, strong early carv...

19th century boxwood netsuke of Okame holding a setsubun bean box in one hand and throwing beans with the other. Setsubun is performed during the New Year by throwing beans around the house to exorcise the evil spirits. Excellent carving with wonderful face and beautifully incised textile pattern of pine saplings, expert staining, beautiful mellow patina. Signed HIROTSUGU on the back - the artist is listed on p. 469 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. ...

Late 19th century boxwood netsuke of a seated puppy. Very nicely carved, great depiction of its chubby body and pensive facial expression. Very pleasant wear and patina, old stable shrinkage lines as seen on photos. Length 1.45 inches.

Late 19th to early 20th century wooden netsuke carved in a shape of a toy bear with red lacquer symbol on its back, which is an early pictograph representing the sun. Clever design, beautiful simplicity to the object, dense hardwood, eyes are inlaid, wonderful patina. Length 2.28 inches.

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...

19th century Japanese Satsuma ware one half of a belt buckle decorated with cranes among flowers and leaves. Metal back stamped with the mon (crest) of the Shimazu samurai clan - they were daimyō (great lords) of the Satsuma han, which spread over Satsuma, Ōsumi and Hyūga provinces. Excellent quality painting, in superb condition. Size 1.9 inches square.

Late 19th century Japanese ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a form of a natural fruit pit skillfully carved with 2 scenes of scholars engaged in discussions among bamboo and banana plants. Very good carving in deep relief with precise undercutting, nice mellow patina, overall in excellent condition. Height 0.57 inches.

Late Qing Dynasty (1890-1911) Chinese soapstone brush rest carved on the front with 2 scholars in discussion by a hut among trees. Very nice feature - the back shows the natural skin of the soapstone boulder from which the object was carved. Strong simple carving, excellent scholarly simplicity to the piece, very pleasant feel of age, wonderful item for a scholar’s desk. Length 3.14 inches, height 1.83 inches.

19th century Chinese scholar’s bronze seal, its top in a form of a sage riding on the back of a qilin. According to Chinese mythology qilin appears before the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will print on paper). Nicely cast and finished, beautiful patina, has good presence. Height 1.67 inches, base 1.27 x 1.16 inches.

Taisho (1920s) lacquered wood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) in a shape of a drum . Elegant object in Japanese taste, wonderful lacquer work, two parts fit perfectly, in great condition, a couple of scrathes on the top. Diameter 1.86 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1920s) Japanese Kutani porcelain obidome (sash ornament) with enamel decoration of various auspicious objects: coins, key, scroll, magical raincoat, Precious Gem and others. 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. Nice design, excellent quality painting with gold and other enamels, bar on the back for an obi cord. Marked on the back b...

Glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a form of tombodama bead in barrel shape with semitransparent body and decoration of Santa Claus, Christmas tree and falling snow. 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 0.72 inches.

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese wooden stand for a snuff bottle with round top and wide skirt above 3 short feet. Beautifully made out of dark dense rosewood, very nice patina, in excellent condition. Diameter of the recessed area on the top is 1 inch (24 mm), total diameter 1.76 inches, height 0.6 inches.