Catalog (1374)

Unusual vintage Japanese wooden obidome (sash ornament) carved as a peony flower with leaves resting on an open fan. 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. Excellent sharp carving, beautiful painted highlights, very pleasant to handle. Signed on the back with a kakihan (carved monogram) of the artist. Length 3.1 inches.

Vintage green stained staghorn obidome (sash ornament) carved as a running lizard. 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. Clever design, good quality carving, nice finish and patina, two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Length 2 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with carved and gold lacquered decoration of flowers with shoots and leaves with fine tiny green mother-of pears pieces, design continuing on both sides. Signed GYOKUZAN on the front. Superbly made, crisp carving, excellent lacquering, wonderful work in Japanese taste, in great condition (tiny bit of insect damage on the teeth as seen on Enlargement 6). Length 3.3 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items. ...

Unusual 19th century lacquer ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of seed shape with faceted surface showing variously colored layers of lacquer from which the piece was built. Wonderful design piece, metal liner, in great condition. Height 0.67 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in seed shape with sunken relief carving of a cucumber and an eggplant. Excellent design in Japanese taste, green and brown stained vegetables, natural imperfections in staghorn, great patina. Height 5/8 inches.

Meiji / Taisho (1910s) lacquered wood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its top decorated with low relief depiction of an elephant, its trunk raised. Very nice object in Japanese taste, multilayered differently colored lacquer, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 2.2 inches.

Vintage Japanese kiriwood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony) in a form of an open fan with painted decoration of blooming kikyo-zaki (Japanese morning glory) and other flowers and grasses. Comes with tomobako (original storage box made by the artist) inscribed, signed and stamped with a seal of Munehiro Michiba, Very clever design, in perfect condition. Great piece in Japanese taste. Length 3 5/8 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) Japanese wooden round kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its top with a silver plaque engraved with bamboo stalks and leaves. The wood is ichii (Japanese yew) with clever use of wood patterns to add to the charm of the piece, Simple classic design, in excellent condition. Diameter 2.73 inches, height 1.14 inches. Part of a small East Coast kogo collection.

Late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese soapstone seal carved on the top with crouching one-horned chimera. Inscribed with 6 characters on the side. The first photo shows the image of the bottom flipped left to right, so the seal can be read. Excellent carving, wonderful face and body bulk, beautiful patina. The bottom is carved with raised characters, red seal paste in the grooves. Very beautiful variegated peach colored stone with red areas giving extra depth to the carving. Wonderful object...

Late 18th to early 19th century Chinese jadeite carved plaque plaque for sawing onto clothes with carved and pierced decoration of leaves. Nice natural untreated jadeite with shades of green, in excellent condition. Height 1.44 inches, weight 8.9 grams.

Late Qing Dynasty Peking glass opium pipe mouth piece of milky white body overlayed with brick red glass carved with 2 bats and 2 tigers. Nicely made, good feel of age. Inside diameter 11 mm, length 2.8 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese turtle shell kushi (hair comb) with silver lacquer decoration presenting a view of the upper part of a castle with distant hills in the background. I believe this type of hair implement is called side comb. Excellently made, superb quality lacquer work, beautiful translucent material, in great condition. Signed GYOKUHIRA on the back. Length 3.41 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s to 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) encased in silver sheath with gold and shakudo inlays representing beans thrown during setsubun ceremony performed at the New Year around the house to exorcise the oni (demons). Superbly made, crisp detailing, wonderful work in Japanese taste, in great condition. Length 3.39 inches.

19th century Japanese silver and Satsuma obidome (sash ornament) with various blooming flowers with stems and leaves. 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. Excellent quality painting, numerous color and gold enamels, in excellent condition, metal fitting on the back for an obi cord. Back is stamped with a single character GIN (silver). Diameter 1.48 inches.

Unusual 19th century small Japanese carved wooden head of a rakan - one of the 16 (sometimes the number is given as 18) initial disciples of the historical Buddha. Was carved and, judging by patina, most probably used, as the top of a votive statue. Wonderfully captured sorrowful facial expression, old loss to the nose, beautiful patina. Lengthy inscription in ink on the base post. Height 2.2 inches.

19th century ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as a seated monkey performing “speak no evil” routine. Nice work, pleasant patina, no chips or repairs, dust on the surface. Height 3/4 inches.

Early 19th century small Japanese porcelain Imari plate with enamel decoration of a boy wearing haori (short jacket) with a basket full of greens on his back sitting on a buffalo and playing a flute. The subject is bokudo - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood. Underglaze blue decoration in cavetto and on the outside. Wonderful painting perfectly capturing serene mood of the scene, beautiful design with tomato red brocade border, great detaili...

Late Meiji Japanese good size ceramic suiteki (water dropper for diluting ink used in painting and calligraphy) that can also serve as a brushrest, modeled as a large and a small pine cones growing together. Clever design, holes on top of cones for filling and dispensing water, very nice depiction of cone texture, brown glaze with gold enamel over it, in excellent condition. Marked with potter’s stamp on the bottom, appears to read SHUNZAN, but I am not entirely sure. Comes in original kiriwoo...