Catalog (1365)

19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with a bird in flight by a rock and blooming peony bush. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, pleasant patina, in great condition. Signed GYOKUICHI on the side - the artist is listed on p. 424 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 3/8 inches.

19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with four arhat - the original disciples of the Buddha identifiable by their halos - in different attitudes. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, pleasant patina, in great condition. Signed GYOKUICHI on the side - the artist is listed on p. 424 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 3/8 inches.

19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in the round with a man trying to fish in a stream with a double gourd next to a pine and a woven fence. Ojime illustrates a Japanese proverb “Namazu hyotan kindama” (A gourd against a catfish) meaning useless effort similar to trying to catch a slippery fish with a gourd. Wonderful carving, excellent detailing, beautiful floret surrounds to the holes, superb patina. Signed IKKO ...

18th century votive Indian bronze sculpture depicting bare breasted goddess Durga sitting on a lotus base and holding various implements in her hands. Durga is the warrior goddess, whose mythology centers around combating evil and demonic forces that threaten peace, prosperity and dharma of the good. She is the fierce form of the protective mother goddess, willing to unleash her anger against wrong, violence for liberation and destruction to empower creation. Wonderful bronze with very good cast...

Unusual 1930s good size and weight Chinese puddingstone seal of classic square section, the imprint of the seal is shown on the first photo. Superbly cut beautiful natural stone with mesmerizing subtle play of colors. The bottom is carved with 4 sunken characters that can be translated as HALL OF TOTAL RIGHTEOUSNESS. Very pleasant to hold, in excellent condition, nice object for a scholar’s desk. Height 3 9/16 inches, 1 1/2 inches square.

Unusual 1900s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) small Japanese wooden visiting card tray with inlaid multimetal decoration of a Dutchman standing by a pole, one hand raised to his head, the other holding a wide brimmed hat. Wood appears to be kurogaki (black persimmon), wonderful crisp metalwork with different patinas and gilding, beautiful dense hardwood, great patina, in perfect condition. Size 5 5/16 x 4 3/4 inches.

Unusual Japanese obidome (sash ornament) made out of bamboo stem and carved in low relief with blooming prunus branch. 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. Wonderful and clever use of material, beautiful finish and patina. Two metal fittings on the back for an obi cord. Signed EIKO and inscribed in hiragana EZO MURASAKI. Length 2 inches.

Japanese obidome (sash ornament) with polished agate stone, its natural pattern perfectly resembling scholarly landscape with hills covered in lush vegetation and a wide bay beyond them. 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. Amazing natural picture, excellent finish and patina. Metal fitting on the back with two loops for an obi cord. Length 1 9/16 inches.

19th century boxwood netsuke by Nagamachi Shuzan of an actor in a role of Kiyohime turning into a demon. Kiyohime was a daughter of an innkeeper whose advances on a monk were not reciprocated, so her love turned into wrath, and she trapped him under a temple bell, turned into a dragon and melted the bell killing the monk. She is holding a bell striker in her hand and has a very unusual feature for the carver - the mask is inlaid, probably a unique model by the artist. Made in saishiki technique ...

Late Meiji period (1890s -1912) painted wood netsuke of a fully armored samurai, its head wrapped in a scarf, a Japanese sword at his waist and a Chinese looking one in his right hand. Very skillfully carved in a refined version of ittobori (one cut) style. Made in saishiki technique - the wood is covered with gesso, which in turn is painted in bright colors. Great face, in excellent condition. Signed on the back by himotoshi, the signature seems to read MATSUNAGA (alternative reading is Shoei) ...

19th century netsuke of a puppy wearing a collar with bell, and playing with a bamboo twig with leaves. Superb carving to the last detail - see its double inlaid eyes and raised whiskers. Fantastic sense of its chubby body, clever use of a lighter colored ivory layer as a spot on the puppy’s coat, beautiful patina on excellent quality material. Signed with kakihan (carved monogram of the artist) by CHOKUSAI on the bottom - for information on this brilliant master see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND...

19th century wooden netsuke of two heads of reishi fungus with an inlaid slug crawling over the top of the lower fungus. Superb elegant naturalistic carving with excellent depiction of fungus texture as well as antennae and soft skin of the invertebrate. Dense black wood (appears to be ebony), beautiful color contrast between 2 materials, the himotoshi formed by the fungi stem, excellent patina. Signed HIDEHARU in a sunken rectangular reserve - this Nagoya artist is listed on p. 457 of NETSUKE &...

19th century wooden netsuke representing a fine model of a classic Japanese toy - a pottery monkey, the formalized creature seated with one hand on its stomach, the other one on its knee. Superbly clever design, excellent carving capturing the essence of the object, wonderful thoughtful face with traces of red lacquer. Dark dense kurogaki (black persimmon) wood, beautiful patina with fantastic sheen. Signed NAOTSUGU on the side - the artist is listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 503, number 1815...

Early 19th century Japanese kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with relief decoration of two shishi (Buddhist lions) frolicking among huge peony flowers. Superbly made piece with crisp metalwork, shakudo body with gilding, in excellent condition. Length 1 3/8 inches.

Very unusual 19th century Japanese multimetal pendant in a shape of standing geisha holding an umbrella. Definitely made by a metalsmith who was engaged in making sword parts such as menuki and fuchi / kashira. Very clever design, superb detailing both on front and back, great quality inlays and gilding, in excellent condition. Height 15/16 inches.

19th century Chinese snuff dish in a shape of a round saucer with gently concave surface, decorated on the outside with designs seen on ancient Chinese bronzes. Beautiful patina, old age lines, wonderful feel of age. Diameter 1 5/16 inches.

19th century kokutan (ebony) netsuke of a bronze wasp resting on an old rotten log. Rather unusual elegant subject in Japanese taste, beautiful crisp metalwork, dark wood with characteristic ebony sheen from wear. Length 1 3/4 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a seated puppy with its spotted coat, its head and front of the body slightly turned to the left. Excellent quality carving perfectly capturing the essence of the creature, wonderful incised fur with beautifully defined spots, eyes are inlaid with metal. Beautiful wear consistent with age, superb patina, himotoshi formed by its right paws. Length 1 7/16 inches.