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

19th century ichii (yew wood) netsuke of a theatrical mask of an oni - a mischievous demon. Cleverly carved in ittobori (one-cut) style characteristic of Hida school, wonderful depiction of its bushy eyebrows and toothy grin. Wonderful patina and beautiful sheen to the surface. Signed SUKEYOSHI on the back bar - the artist is listed on p. 1051 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, and was a student of Sukenaga. Height 1 9/16 inches.

19th century kokutan (ebony) netsuke representing a theatrical mask of horned demon Hannya. Wonderful crisp detailing, beautiful lustrous patina from wear. Height 1 15/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century metal and wood netsuke of giboshi - a bridge post finial. Beautiful simple object in Japanese taste, perfectly elegant, in excellent condition. Rare subject, beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 9/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century wooden netsuke carved as a head of a dragon with a Precious Gem in its mouth. Boldly carved, strong features of the creature’s face, nice wear and patina. Length 3 inches.

Very unusual 19th century square manju netsuke made out of a slab of aventurine glass with silver fitting on the back in a shape of a samurai family crest with paulownia flowers and leaves, swinging silver loop for hanging. Superbly beautiful and rare material, absolutely stunningly sparkling in direct sunlight, does not photograph well. Three tiny chips along the edges on the front and a couple on the back, do not take away from the piece. Beautiful patina, very pleasant to hold...

Early 19th century bronze netsuke in a form of a temple bell of Miidera. For the legend of Benkei carrying the bell of Miidera see H. Joly LEGEND IN JAPANESE ART, p. 82. Pleasant piece in Japanese taste with nice casting, beautiful wear and patina. Very good piece for collection of various netsuke materials or for scholar’s desk. Height 1 1/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century bronze suigaraake (ashtray) netsuke in classic bowl shape with cast decoration on the outside of 2 birds by bamboo stalks with leaves. Very well designed piece, good detailing, functional netsuke shape, hanged by a bronze ring. Nice old piece with pleasant patina on metal, the inside of the still containing ash residue. Diameter 1 5/8 inches.

19th century netsuke of cut vegetables, tofu and rice cakes inside a wooden pan with handle. Superb elegant design in Japanese taste with perfectly captured mood of happy anticipation of a good meal, excellent carving, beautiful patina. Signed MITSUHIRO on the bottom of the pan. For a lengthy discussion of this first rate distinct artist see NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, page 775. Clever and unusual object by the master carver...

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with multimetal disc worked in low relief scene of a man drawing water from a well, his wooden bucket next to him. Excellent crisp work, wonderful face, gilding, inlaid copper bucket, great patina. Beautifully turned marine material (walrus tusk) bowl with excellent patina. Disc diameter 1 5/16 inches, bowl diameter 1 7/8 inches.

Late 18th to early 19th century wooden netsuke of seated Hotei (one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune and incarnation of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future) with wide smile and a fan in his hand. Strong carving with wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful wear and patina. Height 1 3/16 inches.

18th century netsuke of a standing Dutchman wearing a wig, supporting a Chinese boy on his back with his left hand and holding a tasseled trumpet in his right, a shallow ruff at his neck. Superb quality carving - see the smiling face of the Dutchman with jutting chin and small mouth, his upper teeth showing, wonderful rhythm to the curls of the wig. Well balanced - stands on its own on flat surface...

Late 18th to early 19th century staghorn / bone Kyoto school netsuke of a seated shishi (Buddhist lion) hugging a large ball. Unusual material for the subject, strong early piece with beautiful wear and patina consistent with age, wonderful face, powerful oversized paws, eyes are inlaid with brown horn. Very nice hairwork (see its mane and bushy tail), old age lines, deep himotoshi going through the back down to the bottom. Wonderful sculpture. Height 1 11/16 inches.

18th century good size netsuke of a grazing horse with its head lowered to the left and its tail swishing around at the back. The eyes are inlaid with black horn, differently sized and deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. Great face, wonderful depiction of its mane, stands on its own on a flat surface. Beautiful sheen from wear, honey colored patina on the back. Netsuke of characteristic 18th century triangular section, old age line along the spine of the creature...

Rather unusual late 18th to early 19th century Japanese bronze temple decoration fixture of a tennin - a female buddhist angel - as it flies playing a Shu - Japanese musical instrument from a flute group used in Shinto ceremony and consisting of bamboo reeds forming a circular wind chamber. Wonderful design, beautiful flow of her billowing scarves, gilded highlights, great patina. Very well cast, pleasantly heavy, peg on the back for fixing it to a temple or pedestal wall. Length 6 inches.

19th century netsuke of a dog sitting on a woven mat with its front paw on a reticulated ball with a loose ball inside it. Excellent carving with great face and superb depiction of hair and woven mat textures. Beautiful wear and patina. Signed ICHIRA (alternative readings are Itsura or Kazura) in oval reserve on the bottom. Height 1 1/2 inches.

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...

19th century netsuke in square manju (rice cake) shape with relief carving of a man wearing a straw hat and holding a spouted kettle by a handle, falling maple leaves on the back. of a samurai subduing a rough looking man. the subject is Tadamori capturing an oil thief...

Late 18th to early 19th century netsuke of a standing Dutchman holding an oversized rooster in his hands. Excellent carving, superb depiction of bird’s head, feathers and feet, great face with overly round eyes, wonderful depiction of his knee-length coat decorated with wave designs, textured pants and Chinese style hat with feather. Eyes inlaid with black horn, stands on its own, excellent patina, compressed dust on the surface...