Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (1184)

19th century Asakusa school staghorn netsuke in manju shape engraved with a falcon seated on a pine branch. Nicely made, clever use of natural texture and brown color of outside patches on an antler as parts of design. Porous center of the antler can be seen on the sides, very good patina. Diameter 1.4 inches.

19th century porcelain netsuke of a street entertiner - an acrobat / contortionist - performing on a low stand. Very well made, nice face, pleasant patina. Four feet of the stand are old kintsugi (gold lacquer) repairs. Height 2 inches.

Unusual 19th century bronze netsuke of a seated monk. Nicely cast, beautiful patina, some wear. Characters on the bottom appera to read ROKUSHIN, possibly the name of the artist. Height 1.23 inches.

Pair of early 19th century Goto School menuki - Japanese sword fittings - each depicting a bundle of rice stalks with other plant leaves and berries. Different design for each piece, very good casting and detailing, beautiful patina. Come in very well made fitted kiriwood box. Length 1.6 inches.

Japanese Neolithic period magatama bead made out of agate (carnelian type). Magatama are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 1000 BCE), and in Korea during the Prehistoric period, mainly in the Bronze Age and Neolithic. They are found in mounded tumulus graves as offerings to deities, and continued to be popular with the ruling elite throughout the Kofun Period, and are often romanticized as indicative of the Yamato Dynasty of Japan...

1920s good size chosen matsu (Korean pine wood) netsuke of himono (dried fish). Well captured essence of the object, carved in characteristic Hida school style with clever use of wood color and structure to add to the charm of the piece. Excellent sense of volume, beautiful patina. Length 4.9 inches.

Pair of 19th century Japanese sword menuki each depicting a dancing shojo: one with a ladle and a fan, the other with a ladle and a cup. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, and are particularly fond of sake. Nice design, bronze with gilding, overall in very good condition. Length 1 1/4 inches.

Late 18th to early 19c century votive Indian bronze sculpture of Balakrishna (dancing Krishna) with the right leg raised stepping on a lotus flower, holding a butter ball in his right hand, his left arm outstretched. Unusually fat, pleasantly heavy, great classic piece with excellent casting and detailing (see his exquisite jewelry and hair decorations), wonderful dynamic posture, traces of kumkum powder used to adorn the image during worship, superbly beautiful patina overall...

Early 19th century Japanese cloisonne plate decorated with a butterfly in flight over blooming peony bushes, all within a brocade border. Rare Art Inc. sticker on the back, bold powerful design, rare and early piece in terms of Japanese cloisonne, from the period of transition from Chinese to Japanese style. The back is decorated with a typical Japanese scrolling design. Very pleasant matte finish with original pitting. Diameter 7 5/16 inches.

19th century kagamibuta (“mirror lid”) netsuke, its top carved in low relief with a seated boy wearing rich robe decorated with coin pattern and holding a butterfly net in his hand. Wonderful depiction of robe lines, elegantly incised textile decoration. Beautiful patina, swinging metal loop at the back for the cord. Diameter 1 1/4 inches.

Unusual late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese glass scholar’s rock in a shape of a dramatic solitary mountain. Beautifully made, provides several views, wonderful transparent glass in excellent condition, marked on the bottom with 2 carved Chinese characters that can be translated as “WITHOUT CLOUDS”. Comes with fitted dark rosewood stand. Very attractive item for a scholar’s desk. Height with stand 3 1/2 inches.

18th century Indian bronze votive sculpture of Ganesha sitting on a rectangular throne with probhavali at his back, his vahana (vehicle) - a bandicoot rat - by his left foot, and holding his usual attributes in his 4 hands. This Ganesha has his trunk turned to the left, and it is strongly advisable for worshippers to keep left sided Ganesha statue at home. They are believed to be representing Ida Nadi (lunar energy) with its moonlike nature and feminine energy with a cooling effect...

19th century or earlier good size Japanese magatama bead made out of jadeite with wonderful play of hues of white to very light green. Beautiful matte surface with wonderful patina, great feel of age, very pleasant to the touch. Magatama are curved beads which first appeared in Japan during the Jomon period (circa 1000 BCE), and in Korea during the Prehistoric period, mainly in the Bronze Age and Neolithic...

19th century Korean porcelain water dropper (used for diluting ink) in a shape of curled carp. According to a Chinese legend, a carp that can swim up the waterfall turns into a dragon, and thus serves as a paragon of perseverance, especially in scholarly pursuits. Free potting with nice depiction of fish’ scales, very nice underglaze blue wash, 2 openings for water. Old compressed dust on the surface, some scratching as to be expected, wonderful patina, overall in great shape...

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.

Rather unusual late Qing Dynasty (1890s to 1911) Chinese seal carved out of a natural dense stone with numerous cream to brown colored layers wonderfully resembling flowing hair, and it is not soapstone. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo (image is flipped left to right to present the image as it will actually print on paper). Beautiful surface, wonderful flow to the texture of the stone, one side is left in its natural state in a very clever nod to a scholar’s sensibility...

Late 19th century Chinese / Tibetan mala - Buddhist rosary consisting of 108 Chinese lapis lazuli beads and 4 jadeite ones that serve as spacers dividing the prayer beads into groups of 27 each. Traditionally Buddhist rosary of 108 even-sized beads is used for mantra recitation. The thread represents the continuity of the buddhadharma piercing the 108 worldly passions...

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...