Catalog (189)

Ivory netsuke of a craftsman making a bucket.

Signature below, the first unidentified character : ?光.

Japan – Late Edo period (1603-1868) ou Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century – ?光
Width: 1.2 in (3.8 cm) – depth: 1.2 in (3.7 cm) – height: 1.2 in (3.8 cm)

Ivory netsuke of a craftsman with a fan. Near the holes reserved for the rope (himotoshi), maple leaves.

Signed below, the first character unidentified: ?夫 .

Japan – Late Edo period (1603-1868) or Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century – ?夫
Width: 1.9 in (5 cm) – depth: 1.6 in (4.5 cm) – hauteur : 1.6 in (4.2 cm)

Boxwood netsuke of two chestnuts, one smaller on top of the larger.

Chestnuts, found all over Japan, are considered a symbol of victory and a good omen.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Width: 2 cm (5 cm) – depth: 0.8 in (2.8 cm) – height: 1.6 in (4 cm)

Okimono bronze sculpture of a garlic head with a few cloves visible.

Unidentified mark on the base, most likely from the foundry.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Width: 2 in (5 cm) – depth: 1.5 in (4 cm) – height: 1.8 in (4.7 cm)

Ivory netsuke of a guardian lion, komainu in Japanese or shishi in Chinese, with golden eyes. Resting on its front paws, its head is turned backwards on a four-lobed base.
The komainu is inspired by the Chinese guardian lion shishi, which dates back to the Tang dynasty (581-618). Supposed to ward off evil, it appears on both sides of doors and portals in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Width: 13 in (3.3 cm) – depth: 1.2 in ...

An amusing okimono for use as an incense-burner, in brown patina bronze of an anthropomorphic frog in seated meditation (zazen) or in the lotus yoga position. In the middle of the lotus is a hole for the incense stick.

Representations of this animal in human posture are not uncommon. In the 19th century, the painter Kawanabe Kyôsai (1831-1889) was already depicting frogs in epic battles or everyday scenes. Even earlier, the Chôjû-jinbutsu-giga (lit. "Caricatures of fauna characte...

Pair of bronze rabbits running, their legs forming a round shape.

Made by Hiroharu Hiramatsu (1896 Hyôgo prefecture – 1971, Fukushima,平松宏春). Specialized in metal art, he is a councilor of the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition. He studied with Katsura Mitsuharu (1871-1962), one of the great metallurgists of the modern era. Selected for the first time at the Japan Fine Arts Exhibition in 1934, he has been presenting his work every year, and since then he has been presenting as one...

Eight-sided, flared shaped lacquer kobako box, following the decoration on the lid depicting a basket of flowers, composed of peonies and chrysanthemums in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e lacquer on a nashi-ji background. The edge is decorated with cherry blossoms in gold and silver takamaki-e. Interior and base in nashi-ji.

Japan – Edo period, 18th century
Height: 1.9 in / 4.8 cm – width: 6.1 in / 15.5 cm – depth: 3.5 in / 9 cm

Boxwood netsuke in the shape of a trunk, based on the ikebana stand.

In the floral art of ikebana, the flower holder (kenzan) is placed in the base. The flower stems are planted on in. Sometimes a support of this shape is used as decoration, with the flower holder placed inside.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century
Width: 1.6 in (4 cm) – depth: 1.2 in (3 cm) – height: 0.4 in (1.7 cm)

Deer horn netsuke, carved naturally from root of the antler.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912), 19th century
Width: 1.6 in (4.5 cm) – depth: 2 in (5 cm) – height: 0.8 in (2.8 cm)

Rectangular black and gold lacquer kobako box decorated with pine trees in a mountain landscape in takamaki-e, kirigane and hiramaki-e lacquer. Background in nashi-ji lacquer. Surmounted pewter border. Fitted with two grip rings.

Japan – Edo period (1603-1868), 18th century
Width: 2.7 in (0.8 cm) – depth: 3.1 in (8.8 cm) – height: 1.2 in (3.2 cm)

Quadrangular kobako box decorated with flowers in gold and blue lacquer with aogai inlay. Lid and sides in fundame lacquer, underside and interior in nashi-ji lacquer. Inside, a removable tray with gold fundame borders. Fitted with two gripping rings.

Provenance : Docteur Mène collection.

Doctor Édouard Mène (1833-18..?) was a doctor and vice-president of the Franco-Japanese Society. As great connoisseur of Japanese art, he began collecting Japanese objects such as a...

Small round hare in bronze with dark brown patina, standing on its four legs. In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the twelve animals of the zodiac in Sino-Japanese astrology. It also plays a role in many folk tales and legends. A symbol of longevity, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and turn blue at five hundred years. Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912) Height: 3.1 in (8.5 cm) – width: 2 in (5.5 cm) – depth: 2.6 in (7.8 c...

Round hare in bronze with a dark brown patina, standing on two legs.
In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the twelve animals of the zodiac in Sino-Japanese astrology. It also plays a role in many folk tales and legends. A symbol of longevity, it is supposed to reach a fabulous age and turn blue at five hundred years.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 5.5 in (14.5 cm) – width: 2.8 in (7.5 cm) �...

Suzuribako box (empty) in black lacquer. Gold maki-e decoration of a river bordered by peonies, one with red highlights. The edges of the lid are in gold lacquer. Nashi-ji interior.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 1.8 in (4.7 cm) – width : 8.3 in (21.3 cm) – dept: 10 in (25.5 cm)

Blue and white Hirado porcelain reticulated incense burner (kôro). Handles in the shape of komainu lion-guardians (also called shishi in Chinese) and blue geometric foliage decoration.

Hirado porcelain (平戸焼, hirado-yaki) is made in Mikawachi, Nagasaki prefecture (it is also known as Mikawachi-yaki). Its names come from the former Hirado feudal estate. This porcelain is renowened for its sometsuke decoration technique, a type of underglaze painting in which motifs are drawn us...

A leaf-shaped sundries tray with insect and snail decoration.

France – ca. 1900
Lenght: 9.84 in (25 cm)

Small light brown patina bronze okimono of a mouse with head and tail erect, paws spread.
Bears the stamp « Masu » (ます) on its belly.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 2 ¾ in (7 cm) – width: 1 in (2.5 cm) – depth: 2 ½ in (6.2 cm)

Kobako box decorated with stylized foliage in black and gold hiramaki-e lacquer. The motif is karakusa, a growing plant extending in all directions. It symbols prosperity and longevity. Interior is lined with a floral fabric and topped with a pewter border.

Japan – Meiji era (1868-1912)
Height: 2.5 in / 6.5 cm – width: 3.5 in / 9 cm – depth: 3 in / 7.5 cm

Rosalia longicorn or Alpine longhorn beetle insect (Rosalia alpina) in Murano glass.

Italia, Murano – 20th century
Height: 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) – width: 4.5 in. (11.5 cm) – depth: 3.8 in. (9.6 cm)

Oriental goliath beetle insect (Goliathus orientalis) in Murano glass. Italia, Murano – 20th century Height: 0.6 in. (1.5 cm) – width: 1.38 in. (3.5 cm) – depth: 2.4 in. (6 cm)

Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus) insect in Murino glass.

Italia, Murano – 20th century
Height: 0.71 in. (1.8 cm) – width: 2 in. (5 cm) – depth: 2.56 in. (6.5 cm)

Japanese bronze sculpture of a tanuki. It represented as a Buddhist priest, wrapped in a cloak and lying on a mokugyo (a percussion instrument made of a fish-shaped wooden block and a stick, used to accompany the recitation of sutras).

The tanuki (raccoon dog) is a legendary Japanese animal with magical powers and can transform itself. Mischievous, It uses its long tail to curl up, hide or to confuse its enemies.

Inscription underneath “made by Masamitsu” (正光作...

Japanese bronze of a mouse holding a hazelnut between its paws, wax cast in Takaoka.

The mouse or the rat are both referred indistinctly by the term nezumi in Japanese. It is a zodiac sign and a symbol of wealth.

On its right side, seal “Taka” (孝).

Comes with its original carrying box. Inscriptions: “Wax cast "Spring snow" (Harukaze) Made by Takashi Omori” « Takashi » seal

Takashi Omori (1952-) studied under Suga Shôen (1897...

Japanese bronze representing two mice, one of them pulling a treasure bag.

The mouse or the rat (both called nezumi in Japanese), one of the zodiac signs, is a symbol of fortune. This bag can be compared to the treasure bag of Hotei, one of the seven gods of Happiness. A figure of prosperity, he is also the god of joy, abundance and the guardian of children. His bag contains everything a person needs in his daily life.

Unidentified seal below.

Japan - M...

Jûbako picnic box made of paulownia wood and shaped like a paulownia flower. It is composed of three compartments with the interior in red lacquer.

With its original box with several inscriptions, included the datation "- 2nd year of Kaei era", namely 1848

Paulownia (kiri) is considered as a symbol of nobility, honor and longevity. Since the Edo era, there has been a tradition that paulownia is planted at the birth of a daughter to be used later as a material for makin...

Carved wooden tray decorated with two dragons.

Indochina – First half of the 20th century
Height: 1 in (2.5 cm) – width: 13.4 in (34 cm) – length: 23.6 in (60 cm)

Exceptional Japanese incense cabinet kodansu in wood covered with a profusion of mother-of-pearl flowers and bone leaves, engraved and inlaid with the shibayama technique. Bottom in nashi-ji lacquer.
Handles, finishes and feet in silver. The handle can be turned to lock the cabinet.
Inside, three removable drawers in black lacquer with hiramaki-e lespedeza decoration, interior and door in nashi-ji, bone handle in the shape of buds.

This kodansu, use to store the utensils...

Polychrome sculpture in Sumida-gawa stoneware, also called Sumida-yaki, representing an old man surrounded by five monkeys in front of a basket containing two nuts. Glazed clothes and basket.

Seal underneath of Kinoshita (木下).

Sumida-yaki ceramics takes its name from the Sumida River (Sumida gawa), near which it was created by Inoue Ryosai I (1828-1899) in 1875. He and the wealthy merchant Shimada Sobei built a kiln in the Hashiba district of Asakusa, in present-day...

Celadon ceramic vase with slightly raised decoration of two cranes flying in the clouds.

Glued label with red pen inscription “2MM15”. Unidentified signature

Thailand – 20th century
Height: 7 in. (18 cm) – diameter: 9 in. (23 cm)

Iron tsuba in the shape of a chrysanthemum (kikugata), openworked in negative with foliage and geometric patterns.

Chrysanthemum shaped tsuba were quite popular in the Edo period as the flower was considered a symbol of nobility and elegance. Kikugata are often openworked in negative. This creates intricate and delicate patterns that reflect the level of sophistication and refinement of the craftsmen.

Japan – Edo period (1603-1868)
Width: 2.9 in. (7.3 cm)...

Rectangular-shaped (nadekakugata) iron tsuba decorated with two dragonflies with copper tara-zogan inlay.

Japan – Edo period (1603-1868)
Width: 2.4 in. (6.2 cm) – depth: 2.7 in. (7 cm)

Ovoid-shaped (nagamarugata) iron tsuba hammered and chased with medallions. On one side, medallions of a dragon with gold highlights and a komainu (or shishi – lion dog guarding the temple). On the other one, a medallion of waves and clouds with gold highlights

Tanaka school
Japan – Edo period (1603-1868)
Width: 3.1 in. (8 cm) – depth: 3.3 in. (8.5 cm)

Gold lacquer suzuribako (writing set) representing a pine tree in a rocky mass in takamaki-e on a kirigane background.

The inside of the lid and the writing case is decorated with an interlacing of hiramaki-e foliage on a dense nashi-ji background.

Accompanied by its original box with partially identified inscription, "Suzuribako with lid - gold nashi-ji [...]" (金梨地 [1 unidentified kanji]画 [2 unidentified kanji] 硯筥覆).

Japan – Edo era (160...

Bronze dropper (suiteki) representing a chubby guardian lion, called komainu in Japanese or shishi in Chinese.

The komainu is inspired by the Chinese guardian lion shishi, which dates back to the Tang dynasty (581-618). Supposed to repel evil, it appears on both sides of the entrance to the doors or gates of shrines and temples.

The suiteki is a small container used to hold water that is added to the ink stone during the grinding of the ink stick, used for calligraphy. ...

Matcha bowl in clay decorated with two hare, partly glazed.
A fine contrast between the unglazed foot, which retains the raw color and rough, matt appearance of the clay, and the rest of the bowl, which is partly glazed with a brown layer with a smooth and shiny appearance. The body is underglazed with two running hares and a sayagata motif (derived frow swastika, a symbol of good fortune).
Unidentified mark on the foot.

In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred ...