Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Netsuke and Related (551)

Late 19th century porcelain netsuke of an old woman Uba with a broom in her hand. Uba and her companion Jo are an elderly couple living as spirits in pine trees in Takasago. Wonderful expressive face with wrinkles and hollow cheeks, beautiful wear and patina. Looks like old smoothed losses to the back of her robe by the bottom. Height 2.73 inches.

19th century small porcelain netsuke of standing Ebisu - one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, that of fishing and luck. Clever modeling reminiscent of ittobori (one cut) wood carving style, nice wear and patina. Height 1.4 inches.

Early to mid- 19th century netsuke representing nio (one of the Buddhist Guardian Kings) sitting on a huge old straw sandal and mending it with a rope. Excellent carving, beautifully stained, wonderful wear and patina. Signed TOMOCHIKA in oval reserve on the bottom - the artist is Tomochika the First as discussed on p. 1148 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick. Height 1.2 inches.

Mid- 19th century netsuke depicting Kokusempu Riki (Li Kui in Chinese) - one of the Suikoden heroes - holding a huge axe. Loosely based on historical events, the Chinese book called Shui-Hu-Chuan (Suikoden in Japanese, The Water Margin in English) it tells the story of a group of 108 rebels living at the edge of Liangshan Marsh who helped to protect the poor and oppressed. Kokusempu Riki (Li Kui in Chinese) was a priest, who was expelled from the Hakuryojin Temple...

19th century netsuke of a Buddhist monk sawing off the horns of an oni (little mischievous demon) who is holding its hands in a praying attitude. The subject is Oni no Nembutsu - a demon who saw the light of Buddhist teachings and decided to become pious. Wonderful faces, great detailing, beautiful patina, very pleasant yellowing to the surface. Signed SHOKYUSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 969 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick...

Unusual late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) Japanese multimetal obidome (sash ornament) with engraved design of chrysanthemum flower with bud and leaves, and a textile spread for a picnic. 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 in Japanese taste, superb engraving work. Different patinas and gilding, two loops on the back for an obi cord...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of Benkei as yamabushi (a wandering warrior priest) emerging out of a huge horagai (a war trumpet made out of a shell) and blowing into a smaller one, and holding a shakujo (Buddhist priest rattle) in his hand. The tokin (skull cap) on his head is the sign of the yamabushi, and horagai - (a trumpet shell - Charonia Tritonis) were often fitted with a mouthpiece on the thin end, and used as war trumpets...

19th century boxwood netsuke of a dog licking its puppy. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, superb realistic carving, the breed looks like spaniel or Pekinese, extraordinary depiction of their fur and faces. Great netsuke. Length 1.7 inches.

19th century ebony netsuke of a crouching rat with its young climbing on mother’s back. Wonderfully captured interaction, superb detailed carving, very beautiful patina, in excellent condition. Length 2.51 inches.

19th century lacquered wood netsuke of a a grinning boy with a handled container, attributed to Sansho school. Great face, double inlaid eyes, expert lacquering, beautiful patina. Height 1.8 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of seated Thunder God Raiden, his drums that he uses to create thunder behind his back. Wonderful face with a touch of madness, excellent detailing, beautiful patina. There is an old restoration to a section of his scarf under the left arm - see left photo on Enlargement 5. Height 1.5 inches.

19th century tall netsuke carved as a dancing fox standing on its hind legs with its front paws raised to one side and its tail erect. This particular model seems to represent the Inari fox - the benevolent and well disposed creature, being the messenger of the God of rice and harvest, as opposed to the other foxes, which are generally believed to be evil creatures...

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...

19th century marine ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape carved in the round with Thunder God Raiden running through the clouds beating his drums, thus creating thunder. Beautifully carved, excellent patina, metal liner to the central hole. Diameter 0.61 inches.

19th century marine ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape carved in the round with shishi (Buddhist lion) frolicking among rocks and flowers. Beautifully carved, excellent patina, metal liner to the central hole. Diameter 0.68 inches.

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a seated inebriated oni with a sake cup in one hand, and the other raised to his head indicating a hangover. Strong early carving, great face, inlaid pupils and horns, powerful muscular limbs. Himotoshi is formed by his legs, very good patina. Height 2 inches.

Late 19th century netsuke of a peasant seated on a bundle of firewood smoking a pipe and helping to light the pipe of the other man with a rain hat. Old loss to the smoking parts of both pipes, Very good carving, great faces, multiple inlays to their clothes. Signed CHIKUZAN on inlaid lacquer plaque on the bottom - there is an artist who signed with these characters listed in NETSUKE by Neil Davey (p. 453, number 147), but I am not sure it is the one who carved this netsuke...

19th century netsuke in a shape of a sake cup made out of half of kurumi (walnut shell) with lacquered inside and silver floret shaped fitting with a loop for hanging. Very clever piece, beautiful warm patina, old stable crack lines, well done old kintsugi (gold lacquer) repair. Length 1.4 inches.