Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian (1184)

19th century lacquered netsuke of an actor in a role of a shojo with fan and a ladle. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, and are particularly fond of sake. Great face, superb rendition of Noh theater robe with gold lacquer and iridescent mother of pearl, characteristic red lacquer hair, in excellent condition. Signed SHUGYOKU (can also be read as Hidetama) on the bottom - the artist is discussed on p...

19th century lacquered boxwood netsuke of a recumbent goat, its head turned back and resting on its haunch. Excellent carving capturing the essence of the creature, wonderful depiction of its coat, eyes are inlaid with amber, excellent wear and patina.. Length 2.07 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of two frogs frolicking on differently sized peony buds with stems. Wonderfull quality carving (see finely incised petals texture) carved, very beautiful warm patina. Signed GYOKUSEKI on the bottom - there is Gyokuseki listed on p. 428 of NETSUKE & INRO ARTISTS AND HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNATURES by George Lazarnick, but this is much better quality carving than his usual work, probably a different carver with the same name. Length 2 inches.

19th century wooden netsuke of a turtle with its head and limbs hidden inside the carapace. Elegant strong carving, wonderful rhythm to the sections of the carapace, beautiful depiction of the creature. Central plastron on the back is removable and has a hole at the lower tip that serves as himotoshi. Wonderful patina, very pleasant to handle. Length 1.6 inches.

Early 19th century wooden netsuke of a lotus pod with 2 seeds that can move inside their sockets. Great early carving, dark dense fruitwood, himotoshi (cord opening) formed by the stem of the pod. Beautiful mellow patina from handling, in great condition. Pod diameter 1.66 inches.

19th century netsuke of a toad, a snake and a slug on rockery with bamboo grass. The subject of the netsuke is sansukumi: a combination of a snake, which eats a toad, which eats a slug, whose slime is poisonous to a snake - thus forming the circle of deaths. Beautiful rendition of textures - the skin of toad and snake, bamboo and rock surfaces. Warm patina and very pleasant wear to the surface, himotoshi (cord openings) are very cleverly carved as irregular holes in the rock...

19th century netsuke depicting 2 boys mimicking Sambaso and Manzai performers, with one playing a drum, and the other wearing a theatrical mask of Hyottoko (perplexed peasant) and holding a fan and a rattle. Excellent detailed carving, wonderful faces, beautiful etching of textile patterns and hair tufts. Beautiful patina - mellow yellowing on the back, overall in great condition. Signed HOMIN with kakihan (monogram of the artist) on the bottom - the artist must have been a student of Hokei...

Very unusual late 18th to early 19th century Japanese sword bronze tsuba with cloisonne decoration of a dragon and a tiger about to engage in a fight, the back with design of bamboo and flowering prunus. Wonderful pairing of the two most powerful animals, beautiful crisp work, in excellent condition. Comes in kiriwood box. Height 2.79 inches, width 2.77 inches.

Unusually large 18th century or earlier Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced decoration of three dragons fighting among scrolling vines. Strong early piece with numerous perforations and three dimensional work, crisp detailing, gilding, excellent wear and patina consistent with age. Height 3.63 inches, width 3..44 inches.

Early 19th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced decoration of water dragons contesting tama (Precious Gems). Strong early piece with numerous perforations, gilding, wear and patina consistent with age. Diameter 2.93 inches.

Early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba for tanto with raised and inlaid decoration of a shojo dreamily looking at a huge pearl on a rock in front of it, a paddle with wet working end at the end of the rock. Shojo are mythical creatures living near the sea, who are particularly fond of sake. Excellent design, great quality inlays - see the silver inlay on the paddle indicating that it is wet, beautifully inlaid textile patterns, excellent patina. Height 2 1/4 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba inlaid with cloisonne flowers, brass scrolls and cloisonne mon (crests) of the Tokugawa clan and containing three aoi (hollyhock) leaves. Strong early piece with very good work, wear and patina consistent with age. Height 3.2 inches, width 3 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced design of “hundred monkeys”, all in different attitudes. Excellent early piece with numerous perforations requiring enormous amount of work, precise detailing, gilded eyes of the creatures, wear and patina consistent with age. Height 2.74 inches, width 2.7 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced design of four roundels with crosses among scrolling vines. Crosses may be namban (Christian) symbols or the mon (samurai family crest) of the Shimazu clan of Satsuma province. Excellent early piece with numerous perforations requiring enormous amount of work, precise detailing, gilding, wear and patina consistent with age. Height 3.06 inches, width 2.71 inches.

18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced decoration of chi dragons contesting tama (Precious Gems) among scrolling clouds. Strong early piece with numerous perforations and three dimensional work, gilding, wear and patina consistent with age. Height 2.82 inches, width 2.58 inches.

Pair of 19th century Goto School menuki - Japanese sword fittings - each depicting a puppy with collar in different attitude. Superbly beautiful shakudo with characteristic black surface, crisp casting and detailing, wonderful patina. Come in very well made fitted kiriwood box. Length 0.8 inches.

Pair of early 19th century Goto School menuki - Japanese sword fittings - each depicting a scholar, one with a scroll, the other with fan. Great design, extraordinary detailing with gold and silver inlays, beautiful patina. Come in very well made fitted kiriwood box. Length 1.18 inches.

Unusually long pair of early 19th century menuki - Japanese sword fittings - one depicting a ferry boat among waves with a punting ferryman in wide rain hat, and the other a flock of 9 chidori (plovers) in flight. Excellent clever design, superb quality crisp work, fantastic gilding, beautiful patina. Come in very well made fitted kiriwood box. Lengths 1.97 and 2.2 inches.