Catalog (1374)

18th century netsuke of a cat resting on a large abalone shell. It is uncommon to see cats in netsuke. Finely carved, great expression on its face, beautiful flow to the bumps on abalone, superb wear to the surface, warm yellow patina (darker on the bottom where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono). Differently sized himotoshi typical for 18th century netsuke, with larger one being able to accommodate a knot. Old age lines, overall in great condition. Excellent early piece. Length 1 7/8 inch...

19th century netsuke of a Manchurian crane in flight. Wonderfully caught image, compact design, superb rendition of his leathery legs, excellent head with double inlaid horn eyes. Excellent depiction of its feathers, beautiful patina. Signed MASATOSHI on the bottom - for discussion of Isshinsai Masatoshi see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 735. Length 1 3/4 inches.

19th century lacquered wood netsuke of standing Jurojin (one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, that of longevity and wisdom) with a length of cloth in his hands supporting two scrolls. The netsuke is essentially a wish for long life and learning. Excellently carved, superb detailing, extraordinary quality lacquering. Wonderful face with a slight smile, finely done cloud patterns on his robe. Beautiful patina, in superb condition. Height 2 inches.

19th century netsuke of 2 biwa (loquat) fruits on a stem. Elegant design in Japanese taste, superb quality realistic carving down to the last detail - see the rendition of bark on branches and perfectly etched terminals of the fruits. Beautiful wear and patina, himotoshi formed by natural openings in the carving. Signed MASATSUGU in oval reserve on the stem - the artist is listed on p. 740 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1.21 inches.

Contemporary netsuke of a bee sitting on a honeycomb with grubs and honey cells. Walrus tusk, honey cells are inlaid with Baltic amber. Excellent carving, great realistic depiction of the insect, wonderful patina. Signed on the bottom by the artist Sergey Chernyavskiy. Length 1.87 inches.

Early 19th century netsuke depicting one of the Suikoden heroes standing wearing only a cloth skirt and carrying a large log on his back. Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) was very popular in the capital Edo. It contained numerous tales of an outlaw named Sung-Chiang and his 108 followers. Wonderful arrogant face, nice staining and etching, old age lines, beautiful wear and patina. Very well balanced, stands on its own on flat surface. Height 2...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of yamabushi - wandering warrior priest recognizable by tokin (skull cap) on his head - sitting inside a huge shell made into a trumpet, and blowing into yet another trumpet shell. Usually for this subject the person in the shell is considered to be Benkei. Horagai - (trumpet shell - Charonia Tritonis) were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets. Strong early carving, wonderful severe face, bronze mouthpiece and stud inlays on ...

Very unusual 19th century netsuke in a shape of an old cherry trunk with a newly blooming branch. Extraordinary elegant design in Japanese taste, mother of pearl inlaid flowers with use of lacquer at their bases, excellent patina. Length 3.9 inches (99 mm).

Late 18th - early 19th century staghorn netsuke of Shoki (Demon Queller) with a sword in one hand, the other one raised to hold his head with a terrified oni crouching on top of it, a sword scabbard on his back. Very strong early carving, wonderful intensely staring expression as he looks up towards his hat. Beautiful mellow patina, large deep himotoshi typical for the period, usual staghorn porous areas in the material. His feet are and old and well done replacement, well balanced, stands on it...

19th century netsuke of a Buddhist priest and famous 14th century poet Ikkyu seated next to a human skull and pointing at it as a reminder that all living things must ultimately die. Uncommon subject, wonderful smiling face, great depiction of the scull, nicely detailed (see the short Buddhist rosary around his right hand), beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 7/16 inches.

18th century decent size wooden netsuke of standing sennin Chochu enveloped in his robe and holding his most important attribute - a hossu (fly whisk) - across his shoulder. Rare subject, wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful flowing lines of the robe, superb sense of volume. Well balanced - stands on its own on a flat surface. Very cleverly done himotoshi (through the right sleeve to his back), superb patina. Excellent netsuke. Height 3 3/4 inches (96 mm).

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. ...

19th century netsuke of a head of a nio - (also called Kongōrikishi) - a wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing at the entrance of a Buddhist temple. Nio are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajrapani, the oldest and most powerful of the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon. This particular image represents Naraen Kongo, his mouth is closed representing the vocalization of the sound “N” - the last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. Excellent carving of his ferocious face, be...

19th century shakudo Japanese sword tsuba for tanto with raised and inlaid decoration of a dragon flying along its rim among wispy clouds, all on finely textured ground called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Shakudo (an alloy typically consisting of 96% copper and 4% gold) body, superb clever design, extraordinary crisp work, in excellent condition. Height 2 3/16 inches.

Very unusual 19th century lacquered wood sashi type netsuke carved in a shape of a cloud dragon with its head turned back onto itself, its neck forming himotoshi. Does not photograph well, impressive when handled. Elegant and clever carving, all 4 legs are in different positions, nice rendition of its face and hair. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing, gold lacquer highlights, excellent wear and patina on the surface. Almost identic...

19th century boxwood netsuke of Thunder God Raiden standing on his drum that he tore open by beating it with a striker on the clouds. According to Japanese folklore by beating the drum Raiden creates thunder. The stretched leather part of the drum is lacquered in Negoro style: red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black starts showing. The bottom of the drum is carved as a seal, with a seal script reading HARUYOSHI (alternative reading is Shunko) in a reserve shaped like a mallet of Daikoku...

19th century netsuke of a rooster on a drum. The subject symbolizes peace: according to a Chinese story, a drum was kept at the palace gate to alert soldiers in case of emergency, but during the reign of Emperor Yao the peace was maintained for so long, that the drum fell into disuse and became the favorite roost for local fowl. Excellent quality carving - see the rich depiction of differentiated feathers of its body and tail, eyes are inlaid with black horn. Beautiful light staining, pleasant w...

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).