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

Late 18th to early 19th century Japanese sword iron tsuba decorated on the front with 3 scholars and an attendant under a pine tree viewing the moon partially obscured by the clouds. There is yet another scholar on the back of the tsuba looking towards the moon as well. Excellent piece with gilding, multimetal (gold, silver and shakudo) inlays and precise detailing - see the incised textile patterns on the golden robe of the scholar on the back. Some wear, overall in excellent condition...

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced decoration of a tiger frolicking by a thick stem of bamboo with leaves, 2 sides presenting back and front views. Delightful design, good work, wonderful face of the creature, gilded highlights, very pleasant feel of age. Height 2 15/16 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (mirror lid) netsuke with metal top depicting Kyoyu - one of 7 Sages of the Bamboo Grove - seated among rocks by a waterfall and cleaning his right ear thus washing off the indecency of the suggestion for him to become an Emperor. Sometimes he is shown with his friend Sofu leading his ox away from the river several miles downstream from the waterfall, so it will not drink water tainted by indecency of the proposal...

Unusual 19th century wood and gilded bronze netsuke in manju (rice cake) shape of a crab on a piece of driftwood. Clever design, excellent quality crisp depiction of its legs and claws, beautiful gilding. Nice patina on wood, pleasant to hold. Netsuke diameter 1 5/8 inches.

18th to early 19th century wooden netsuke of two standing Chinese scholars with a huge ball between them. Wood is lacquered in Negoro style - red lacquer over black, so as it wears the black and then wood starts showing, thus adding yet another color to the piece. Some remnants of gold lacquer in recessed areas as well. Very smart use of lacquering technique, beautiful wear to the surface, really nice feel of age to the piece. Height 1 1/2 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of Shoki (Demon Queller) seated on a table with one foot dangling and a sword on a table behind his back, while a terrified oni (little mischievous demon) is hiding under the table looking for a way to escape. Wonderful quality carving - see their great faces, hair and clothing. Nice wear consistent with age, fantastic warm patina. Cursively signed TOKUSAI on the bottom - the artist is listed on p...

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved as a dog seated on its haunches, its front paws at its chest and wearing a collar. Excellent clever carving, great face, eyes are highlighted with ink, wonderful warm patina. Height 3/4 inches.

Very unusual 19th century metal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in a shape of tokkuri (sake bottle) inside a wooden box, just the way sake is served in traditional restaurants in Japan. Very clever design in Japanese wabi-sabi taste, beautiful crisp work - see the texture of the box. Bronze with excellent gilding, great patina. Height 9/16 inches.

Unusual 19th century Japanese mixed metal scroll weight in a form of a karako (Chinese boy) resting on his stomach and supporting his head by hand, wearing a rich robe and a collar. Pleasantly heavy bronze with gilding on the collar, intricate cloud designs on the robe superbly inlaid with copper and silver, excellent depiction of his chubby face with a slight smile. Wonderful patina from handling, very appropriate piece for scholar’s desk. See 2 more companion boy scroll weights in my catalog...

Unusual 19th century Japanese mixed metal scroll weight in a form of a karako (Chinese boy) standing on one knee with the other one up, wearing a rich robe and a collar. Could have been used as a brush rest as well. Dynamic posture, pleasantly heavy bronze with gilding on the collar and robe, intricate textile designs on the robe superbly inlaid with silver, excellent depiction of his chubby face with a slight smile. Wonderful patina from handling, very appropriate piece for scholar’s desk...

19th century Japanese ceramic wall vase for use during tea ceremony as a flower container. Bizen ware made in Okayama Prefecture - one of the 6 oldest kiln centers in Japan. Wonderful free potting, beautifully indented by potter’s thumb on the front, subtle glaze ranging in color from gray to olive to brown. Excellent piece in Japanese taste, very pleasant warm patina, overall in excellent shape. Iron ring for hanging, inscribed with potters’s mark on the bottom. Height 4 3/4 inches.

19th century metal ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in ball shape with pierced decoration of continuous open cherry flowers. Superb design, full liner to the central hole, bronze (may be tarnished silver) with beautifully worn gilding, excellent patina, wonderful feel of age. Height 13/16 inches.

19th century white bronze ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) of compressed ball shape with cast and pierced geometric and scrolling designs. Nice crisp work, full liner to the central hole, pleasant feel of age, beautiful patina. Diameter 3/4 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a basket woven out of bamboo skin strips in a shape of a jar. Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 9/16 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a ceramic sake jar with high shoulders and wide top, pierced and decorated with geometric designs. Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 5/8 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a ceramic sake jar with high shoulders and wide top, pierced and decorated with geometric designs. Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 9/16 inches.

19th century staghorn ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved in a shape of a ceramic sake jar with high shoulders and wide top, pierced and decorated with geometric designs. Clever elegant design in Japanese taste, beautiful staghorn texture, in great condition. Height 5/8 inches.

19th century Japanese ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved out of a fruit pit as a mother monkey eating a fruit with 3 babies loitering in her arms while a teenager climbed on her back and is eating a smaller fruit on her head. Wonderfully captured mood of the scene, very nice carving with great level of detail, wonderful faces, pleasant mellow patina. Height 1 inch.