Catalog (25)

18th century decent size wooden netsuke of standing sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a robe and a leaf cape robe and stroking his long beard. Very strong early carving, wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful flowing lines of the robe, superb sense of volume. Does not stand of flat surface, large differently sized himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time, superb patina. Excellent netsuke. Height 3.55 inches (90 mm).

19th century netsuke of a man with a horn on his head, bent under the weight of a richly dressed woman on his back. The subject of the netsuke is Ikkaku Sennin (single horn Sage), a supernatural being born of a doe. According to a Japanese legend, he grew angry with the Rain Dragons and sealed them away in a cave, causing a drought. Beautiful Indian princess Sendarama was sent to tempt him and when he yielded to her, he lost his magical powers, and the rain returned. Great carving - see both fac...

19th century boxwood netsuke of Sennin Tobosaku showing off the Peach of Immortality which he stole from a tree in the garden of Seiobo, the Chinese Queen of the Fairies, where it ripens only once it 3 thousand years. Excellent carving, great face, wonderful flow to the lines of his robe, small old loss to the peach. There are 2 gushes (not cracks) on the back, and the one going diagonally from the shoulder to the center of the back has an old repair with a length of wood, the horizontal one pro...

Late Meiji / early Taisho (1910s) Japanese Bizen stoneware okimono modeled as Gama Sennin - an ascetic - with his usual companion - a toad. Excellent modeling with wonderful facial expression, fine detailing. Typical Bizen body and superbly beautiful glaze ranging in color from olive to brown. Signed by the potter on the bottom on the bottom. Old losses to the leg of the frog (from its body to the hand of sennin), top of the double gourd at his belt and a chip to the lower part of his hair on th...

19th century boxwood netsuke depicting theatrical mask of Ikkaku sennin (single horn Sage). The character was an Immortal, but ended up living on earth as he have not been able to resist temptations presented by females. Rare mask subject, wonderful pensive face, beautiful wear and patina, old paper label on the back. Recently deaccessioned from the Framingham History Center, Massachusetts, where it has been part of the collection since 1923. Height 1 5/8 inches.

Good size early 19th century boxwood netsuke of Gama sennin standing with one foot raised while his usual companion - a toad - is climbing onto his left shoulder - apparently much more rare version, as the creature usually seem to prefer the right one. Excellent depiction of sennin’s face with a touch of madness, flowing lines of his robe, leaf skirt and cape. Very cleverly done himotoshi (through the right sleeve to his back), old replacement to the top part of his staff. Height 3 5/8 inches ...

18th century decent size wooden netsuke of standing sennin Chochu enveloped in his robe and holding his most important attribute - a hossu (fly whisk) - across his shoulder. Rare subject, wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful flowing lines of the robe, superb sense of volume. Well balanced - stands on its own on a flat surface. Very cleverly done himotoshi (through the right sleeve to his back), superb patina. Excellent netsuke. Height 3 3/4 inches (96 mm).

18th century netsuke of an emaciated sennin seated on a base wearing a tattered robe and a leaf cape and holding a staff with a bundle of his possessions tied to its top, and with a dog affectionately leaning onto the man. The subject is Sennin Izenshun (Chinese Wei Shan-Chun), who took good care of a black dog that had come to his hermitage, and one day the dog turned into a dragon and took the sennin to heaven. Rare subject, wonderful quality early carving - see his face with a wide grin and d...

Good size 18th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) in a long robe and a leaf cape, carrying on his shoulder a Chinese boy who plays a short trumpet. The netsuke is probably a joke on the subject of bokudo, which is typically depicted as a boy seated on the back of a buffalo and playing a flute - a theme of a perfect peace of mind, and one of the stages of a journey towards Buddhahood.. Unusual subject, wonderful quality carving of their faces, beautiful flowing lines of the robe...

Late 18th - early 19th century netsuke of seated Gama Sennin with his constant companion - 3-legged frog - on his head, and another standing sennin wearing a leaf skirt and leaning on the back of Gama’s toad. Unusual subject, excellent quality carving with great faces and beautifully carved leaf patterns, warm yellow patina. Excellent warm patina, old age lines, great feel of age to the piece. Height 2 3/16 inches.

Late 18th - early 19th century netsuke of a standing sennin (Chinese sage) holding an open scroll in his hands. Excellent carving on his smiling face, beautiful flowing lines of his robe, precisely incised and etched textile patterns, deep himotoshi in accordance with the habit of the time. The netsuke is of typical 18th century triangular section, old age lines. Beautiful wear to the piece, warm yellow patina, especially on the back where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono. Height 2 3/8 in...

18th century netsuke of an emaciated Gama sennin wearing old monk’s robe with his ribs visible sitting on rockery as his constant companion - a toad - affectionately puts its paws on the man’s knees. Somehow netsuke manages to convey the relationship between two characters. Strong early piece with wonderful patina, especially on the back where netsuke was touching the silk of kimono, netsuke of characteristic early triangular section, differently sized large himotoshi arranged in the 18th ce...

18th century netsuke of the magic horse appearing from a dried gourd. According to a Japanese legend the gourd belonged to Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) who could summon the magic horse out of it to be transported wherever he wanted. Elegantly carved piece with great face and mane. Beautiful wear and patina. Length 1 9/16 inches.

18th century netsuke of a sennin Chochu enveloped in his robe and holding his most important attribute - a hossu (fly whisk) - across his shoulders. Very rare subject, wonderfully captured facial expression, beautiful flowing lines of the robe, superb sense of volume. Old age lines, beautiful wear to the surface from more than 200 years of handling, superb patina turning honey color on the back from wear against the silk of kimono, of characteristic 18th century triangular section, deep himotosh...

19th century Japanese netsuke of Chokwaro sennin reading an open scroll as he rides his magic horse coming out of the double gourd. According to a Japanese legend Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted.. Beautiful carving, great faces, nicely rendered mane of the animal. Expert light staining, wonderful warm patina, very pleasant finish to the surface. Signed NAOMITSU on the bottom - the artist is listed on p. 822 of NETS...

Rather unusual decent size 19th century staghorn netsuke of a horse appearing from a dried gourd that has a rope tied around its waist. According to a Japanese legend Chokwaro sennin (Chinese sage) could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Cleverly and elegantly carved piece with great face, mane and front legs. Porous center of staghorn at the mouth of the gourd is plugged as is usual in those types of pieces, and plug is carved as a flower with inlaid ...

18th century netsuke of a sennin (Chinese sage) wearing a monk’s robe and a leaf cape and skirt, looking to his left and supporting a double gourd on his shoulders. Netsuke represents Chokwaro sennin who could summon the magic horse out of his gourd to be transported wherever he wanted. Strong early piece with exceptional carving of his wonderful face with mouth open in a wide smile and one eyebrow raised, excellent detailing of his fingers and toes, flow of his robe lines and the leaf cape te...

Early 19th century boxwood netsuke of a man with a horn on his head, bent under the weight of a richly dressed woman on his back. The subject of the netsuke is Ikkaku Sennin (single horn Sage) carrying princess Sendarama on his back - according to Japanese legend, he grew angry with the Rain Dragons and sealed them away in a cave, causing a drought. Beautiful Indian princess was sent to tempt him and when he could not hold on to his chastity vow, he lost his magical powers, and the rain returned...