Catalog (1388)

Early 19th century netsuke in the manner of Tomotada of a recumbent cow with its head resting on a small calf as she cleans his coat with her tongue. Perfectly catches the mood of the scene, strong early carving, hooves bent beneath their bodies for compactness, beautiful wear consistent with age, superb yellowing on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono and picked up oil from the body of the owner. Variously sized very deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, ...

Superb 19th century netsuke of a multi-building palace / castle complex with trees, shrines and bridges with human figures, all on a minute scale. The bottom is carved with low relief landscape with scholar’s huts, a sail boat and distant mountains. Carved with supreme confidence and perfect precision, wonderful wear and patina. Viewed from the top, one of palaces exhibits a distinct cross on its roof - the netsuke may represent a hidden Christian reference. Signed MASAMITSU in characteristic ...

Late 19th century small netsuke of an Okame mask with beautifully carved and etched features, wonderful smile. Very nice wear and warm patina, spots on her forehead are inlaid with dark horn, black and red ink highlights. Signed KOGETSU on the back bar - the artist is listed on p. 636 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 13/16 inches.

19th century netsuke of an acorn on a branch with leaves on top of a pile of chestnuts. Superbly executed elegant piece in Japanese taste, great naturalistic carving - see the carved crack in the skin of one chestnut, beautiful surface textures, himotoshi formed by a stem on the bottom. Excellent staining, wonderful mellow patina and beautiful wear consistent with age. Length 1 1/4 inches.

18th century netsuke of seated Jurojin (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, usually associated with longevity) leaning on one hand. Wonderful early carving of characteristic triangular section, smiling benevolent face, great fat earrings, beautifully etched textile patterns, some black and red highlights. Expert light staining, superb patina. Height 1 1/8 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke, its top carved in low relief with a seated boy wearing rich robe decorated with coin pattern and holding a butterfly net in his hand. Wonderful depiction of robe lines, elegantly incised textile decoration. Beautiful patina, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 1 1/4 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a shishi seated on a base, its head turned to the right and slightly up. Netsuke is carved out of kurogaki (black persimmon) with beautiful switch from black to golden brown grain. Great face with silver inlaid eyes, wonderful depiction of its body bulk and shaggy mane, superb rich patina. Himotoshi is formed by its legs. Signed TOKO TO (carved by Toko) on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 1102 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by Geo...

19th century small netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) mobbed by four toads. For some unexplainable (probably prophetic) reason sennin’s face looks exactly like that of Vladimir Lenin, although the netsuke is a humorous take on Gama sennin”s popularity with amphibians. Wonderful carving with great quality of facial expression and nice detailing - see the warty backs of the toads. Himotoshi (cord opening) goes under the belt on the back, old age lines. Very nice wear and patina, signed CHOKUSE...

Netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Hyottoko - a perplexed peasant - carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century (see p. 886 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick). Wonderful expressive face, black and red ink highlights, beautiful finish to the surface. Signed RYOSHU on the back. Height 1 inch.

Early 19th century nice size netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a leaf cape, leaning on his staff with tied large double gourd resting on his shoulder. Most probably netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Strong early piece with exceptional carving of his intense face, wonderful detailing of his hair and leaf cape. Eyes inlaid in dark horn, netsuke of typical early triangular section. Back of netsuke has ...

19th century netsuke of the famous warrior and statesman Takeshiuchi no Sukune cradling a boy on one hand, and a kneeling man with a sword and wearing a eboshi hat. The boy is the son of the Empress Jingo and is the future Emperor Ojin, to whose education Takeshiuchi devoted his later life. Superbly carved, great faces, elaborate hair and clothing arrangement and excellent textile patterns. Semicircle on the bottom that can be seen on the left of Enlargement 6 may look like a repair, but it is a...

19th century mixed material netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is bronze with medium relief fierce dragon twisted around the Precious Gem. Wonderful quality metalwork - see its face, claws and crisply incised differentiated scales. Warm patina, beautiful fat bowl, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 2 1/16 inches.

19th century mixed material netsuke in kagamibuta (mirror lid) form. The top is mounted with a bronze or shakudo galloping horse, gilding to the eye and spots on its body, superb crisp work. Beautifully captured sense of motion, great patina, old age lines, swinging metal loop on the back for the cord, compressed dust on the surface. Length 1 3/8 inches.

Netsuke carved by Ryoshu (born in 1912) - one of the best Japanese netsuke carvers of the 20th century. Netsuke represents a doll of Daruma (founder of Zen Buddhism) enveloped in monastic robe, and his eyes can pop in and out. Perfectly captured facial expression, beautifully incised and etched facial hair and 3 flowering chrysanthemums on his robe. It appears that the artist etched a different design on every piece of this model of his - see the other Darumas by Ryoshu on my site. Excellent cle...

Late Meiji - early Taisho ceramic netsuke of a chestnut. Bizen ware made in Okayama Prefecture - one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, characteristic fine brown clay. Wonderfully realistic depiction of the object, nice wear and patina, in excellent condition. Height 1 1/16 inches.

Late 19th century wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Ko-Omote - for information on this character representing young women see NETSUKE MASKS by Bushell, p. 103. Excellent crisp detailing, wonderful slight smile, beautiful warm patina. Height 2 1/2 inches.

Late 19th century wooden netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Shakumi - for information on this character representing women who are demented or hysterical with grief see NETSUKE MASKS by Bushell, p. 106. Excellent crisp detailing, wonderful pensive expression, beautiful warm patina. Height 2 7/16 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in ball shape with elegantly pierced lace patterns and concentric circles around its equator. Wonderful design, very clear carving, metal liner to the central hole. Height 11/16 inches.