Catalog: Vintage Arts: Regional Art: Asian (155)

Sotheby’s sale catalog FINE NETSUKE INRO AND LACQUER FROM THE ESTATE OF MADELYN HICKMOTT that took place in New York on February 8, 1989. Soft covers, 400 lots illustrated (some color, some black and white). Excellent reference book.

Bonhams sale catalog THE BLUETTE H. KIRCHHOFF COLLECTION OF NETSUKE AND SAGEMONO that took place in New York on September 16, 2009. Soft covers, 276 lots described and illustrated in color, excellent reference book, in great condition.

Vintage Japanese lacquer kogai style kanzashi - a hair pin - with lacquer decoration of flowers in a stream. Kogai type kanzashi consists of two sticks featuring a design on each end, which tend to be wider than the centre. Kogai resemble sheathed swords, with one end being removable in order for it to be placed in the hairstyle. Wonderful lacquer work, in very good vintage condition. Length assembled 4 1/4 inches. Part of East Coast Japanese hair items collection.

Early Showa (1930s) Japanese obidome (sash ornament) of round shape with engraved flowers. Obidome is worn on an obi cord that holds the obi sash together, is the only type of jewelry worn by Japanese women on formal occasions, and could serve as netsuke as well. Very nice work, beautiful patina. Metal fitting on the back with two loops for an obi cord. Diameter 1 1/8 inches.

Vintage Japanese lacquer kogai style kanzashi - a hair pin - with black and gold lacquer decoration. Kogai type kanzashi consists of two sticks featuring a design on each end, which tend to be wider than the centre. Kogai resemble sheathed swords, with one end being removable in order for it to be placed in the hairstyle. Wonderful elegant lacquer work, some chipping to the edge of one stick at the center of the piece. Signed with one character in gold lacquer, appears to read JI...

Vintage Japanese glass obidome (sash ornament) with domed top and differently colored concentric circles resembling an eye of a fish. 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, excellent quality glasswork, very pleasant to hold. Metal fixture with two loops on the back for an obi cord. Diameter 1.54 inches.

Late Meiji period (1890s 1912) Japanese buffalo horn kushi (hair comb) with overlayed decoration of a fan, a mallet and 2 fan tops, design continuing on both sides. Nicely made, good work in Japanese taste, some insect damage as seen on photos. Length 3.7 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Late Meiji to early Taisho (1920s) Japanese Kutani porcelain obidome (sash ornament) with enamel decoration of various flowers. 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. Nice design, good quality painting with gold and other enamels, bar on the back for an obi cord, pleasant patina. Marked on the back bar with 2 characters reading KUTANI. Length 1.7 inches.

Early Showa (1930s) Japanese lacquer obidome (sash ornament) made out of layered lacquer slab with design cut in at an angle, so numerous multicolor layers can be seen. 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 quality work, very pleasant finish, metal fitting on the back for an obi cord. Length 1,74 inches.

Vintage Japanese sunburst jasper obidome (sash ornament). 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. Nice stone, natural lines in the material, beautiful finish, very pleasant to handle. Brass frame with two fittings on the back for a cord. Length 1.6 inches.

1930s Japanese plastic kushi (hair comb) with embedded gold tone metallic flower design and 2 types of mother of pearl inlays depicting magical rain hat and and Daikoku’s mallet, design continuing on the back. Very well made, wonderful work in Japanese taste, 2 losses to inlays (handle of the mallet and a leaf on the back), otherwise in great condition. Length 3.82 inches. Part of East Coast collection of Japanese hair items.

Vintage small Chinese scholar’s buffalo horn seal of square section, traces of red seal paste in the grooves. The impression of the seal is shown on the first photo where it is flipped left to right to present the image as it will print on paper. Beautiful light colored horn, mellow patina, in great condition. Very nice object for a scholar’s desk. Height 1.48 inches, base 0.58 inches square.

Japanese glass ojime in a form of tombodama bead of dark blue glass with flower shaped swirls of tan and white. Tombodama can be translated as “dragonfly ball” and the name is thought to come about because when the molten glass is applied to the core bead it resembles a dragonfly’s eye. Very well made, in perfect condition. Height 9/16 inches.

Fukagawa Japanese porcelain small square plate with enamel decoration of blooming medow grasses and flowers. Beautiful piece in Japanese taste, excellent quality painting, skilled use of gold and multicolored enamels, in perfect condition. Marked in blue enamel on the bottom with a mountain and inscribed FUKAGAWA TSUKURU (made in Fukagawa). Size 4 7/8 inches square.

1920s small celluloid netsuke of theatrical mask of Okina (old man) used in Sambaso dance. Very nice example of its type. Height 1 1/8 inches.

Vintage Japanese Komai metal obidome (sash ornament) with gold and silver decoration of bamboo stem and leaves. 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. Nice design, great quality crisp metalwork, two fittings for a cord on the back, a few scratches to the front. Stamped AMITA SILVER on the back. Length 1.18 inches.

Unusual vintage Japanese tea ceremony small chawan - a tea bowl - with pink outside. The piece was made at Shigaraki kilns - one of the six ancient kilns of Japan - and displays typical coarse body with large sand particles, freely applied pink slip with clearly visible traces of potter’s fingers. Very pleasant to hold, in excellent condition. Diameter 4.26 inches, height 2.54 inches.

Vintage glass ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in flattened ball shape, its surface made to resemble distressed jasper. Beautifully made, very pleasant patina. Diameter 0.68 Inches