Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese (899)

18th to early 19th century Japanese sword fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) with inlaid and gilded relief design of three differently colored quails feeding on millet stalks. Very good quality crisp work, different patinas, some expected. Length 1.48 inches, width 0.93 inches, height 0.43 inches

Late 19th century to 1920s good size Japanese sterling silver and copper cigarette case with inlaid and carved landscape of snow covered Mount Fuji rising above clouds, and a wide bay with rocks, pines, huts and sailing boat boats, with design continuing on the back of the case. Inlays are cut all the way through, so the image on the inside of the case is the mirror image of the one on the outside. Excellent quality carving, wonderful inlays with differently colored patinas...

19th century wooden netsuke carved as seated Tanuki (badger) with its mouth wide open, beating with his paws on his extended belly as on a drum. In Japanese folklore tanuki is a notorious trickster: he drums with his paws on his large belly (tanuki no hara tsuzumi), imitating the sounding of gongs in temples and inns, and leading tired travelers astray in the darkness...

Unusual 1890s - 1910s (late Meiji - early Taisho) Japanese lacquered wood nyoi - a Buddhist scepter - made out of a natural root. Nyoi, or Ruyi scepter is a traditional symbol of scholarship and transmission of knowledge. Lacquered in Negoro style with bright red body and black patch on the head. Striated wood surface texture is nicely felt under lacquer, wonderful patina, very pleasant to the touch...

Taisho period (1920s) lacquered wood kogo (box for incense during tea ceremony), its top decorated with two roundels, one containing bamboo and the other cherry flowers. Elegant object in Japanese taste, the body is made out of kiri (Paulownia tree) wood, perfect lacquer work, two parts fit perfectly, beautiful surfaces, in excellent condition. Diameter 1.82 inches.

Late 19th century Japanese Bizen stoneware okimono modeled as meditating Daruma - the founder of Zen Buddhism - enveloped in his monk’s robe with a hood, his hands folded on his chest. Excellent modeling with wonderful facial expression of severe concentration, fine detailing. Typical Bizen color to the surface, eyes are highlighted with white enamel, beautiful patina, in great condition. Marked with a potter’s stamp on the bottom, appears to read EISHO. Height 4 1/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with blue body and decoration of blue in white elongated reserves. Beautifully made, wonderful feel of age, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.8 Inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) Japanese copper and brass temple decoration in a shape of a lotus seedpod and petals. Was used as a temple wall or pedestal decoration. Beautifully made, in excellent condition with great patina. Length 4.62 inches. 19c Japanese copper / brassLOTUS TEMPLE DECORATION

Late Meiji (1890s to 1912) small Japanese bronze vase with gold, silver and copper inlays depiction a long-tailed rooster on a flowering cherry branch. Excellent crisp work, perfectly captured posture of the creature, beautifully carved and inlaid, a few darker spots, overall in great condition. Signed KOSHU (alternative reading is Mitsufune) on the back. Height 4 5/8 inches.

Unusual late Meiji (1890s - 1912) altar set of five small Japanese wooden sculptures of different bodhisattvas in different attitudes. Bodhisattvas are advanced individuals or beings who can achieve buddhahood, but choose not to in order to help others on their road to awakening. Very nicely carved, all faces bear different expressions, some have wire implements in their hands. Obvious losses as seen on photos, remnants of glue on the bottoms (easy enough to remove). Have very good presence...

Rare 19th century Japanese stoneware Kuro Oribe chaire (tea caddy for storing powdered green tea used in tea ceremony) of cylindrical shape with rounded shoulders. Comes with very well made shifuku (silk brocade storage bag). Beautiful free potting, typical elliptical lines on the foot left by a string used to cut off the piece from potter’s wheel...

19th century or earlier Japanese sword set of fuchi (bordering piece between the sword guard and the handle) and kashira (metal pommel at the end of the hilt of a sword) with gilded relief design of small birds in flight by clumps of bamboo, all on finely punched ground texture called nanako, which means “fish-eggs” as it resembles fine rows of caviar. Excellent quality work, in great condition. Kashira length 1.4 inches, fuchi length 1.52 inches.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1910s) Japanese boxwood okimono of a sleeping monk. The subject is a metaphor for a failure to reach enlightenment - instead of seeking and understanding the profound power of Buddha’s teaching the monk falls asleep. Nicely carved, wonderful tranquil face, pleasant patina. Signed YOSHIHISA on the bottom - for information on the artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, p. 1232. Height 2 inches.

Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) Japanese pink coral obidome (sash ornament) with carved decoration of a blooming rose. 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, wonderful carving, very beautiful natural coral, nice finish and patina. Metal fixture with two loops on the back for an obi cord (marked 14K, but looks like nickel plated brass...

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with carved low relief cherry flowers and two metal roundels with cutout brocade patterns, design continuing on the back. Very well made, wonderful work in Japanese taste, tiny areas of insect damage here and there, otherwise in great condition. Length 3.57 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

18th to early 19th century large size iron Japanese sword tsuba worked in low relief with an ama-ryu (rain dragon) in flight among wispy clouds. Clever and elegant design in Japanese taste, gilding to its eyes, in great condition. Height 3.35 inches (85 mm).

19th century bronze Japanese sword tsuba with perforated design of Shoki the demon Queller threatening a terrified oni with a sword. Nicely made, pleasant dark patina, in great condition. Height 2.96 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.