Anonymous

Edo / Meiji period, 19th century

1868-1912

Netsuke

A boxwood netsuke of Daruma yawning after waking from a sleep. Bone or ivory inlay for earrings, teeth, and eyes with a red lacquer kesa clothing.

The historical Bodhidharma (known as Daruma in Japan) was an Indian sage who lived sometime in the fifth or sixth century AD. He is understood as the founder of Chan (Zen) Buddhism after traveling to China. Japanese legend also credits Bodhidharma with plucking out (or cutting off) his eyelids. Apparently, he once fell asleep during meditation, and in anger, he removed and cast them away. The eyelids fell to the ground and sprouted into China's first green tea plant.

42mm x 30mm

Unsigned

Anonymous

Edo Period 18th/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

A gold and shibuichi netsuke in the form of a compass. The body is made of shibuchi with a lopped end for attaching the cord. Gold hand carved flowers in the form of peonies cover the body and end. A compass is found on the top of the netsuke pointing in the four main directions of north, east, south and west.

Much scientific technology came into japan during the Edo period through the Dutch traders. Sundials and compass were fascinating to the Japanese at the time and mounting them in netsuke were well known often in the form of manju netsuke.

Unsigned

40mm x 14mm

Anonymous

Late Edo/Meiji period, 18/19th century

1615-1912

Netsuke

Ivory netsuke of an oni demon. The oni is in a seated pose holding a mushroom in his right hand.

Oni varies widely but usually found as hideous, gigantic ogre-like creatures with a single horn or multiple horns emerging from their heads, with wild hair and claws. Oni may be any number of colours, but blue, red, and green are particularly common. They are generally considered to be foreign in origin, perhaps introduced into Japan from China along with Buddhism.

30mm x 43mm

Unsigned

Anonymous

Edo / Meiji period 19/20th century

1800-1912

Manju

A wood and lacquer netsuke manju. The manju depicts fern-like foliage and paulownia flowers in togidashi lacquer on a brown lacquer base. Interior in nashiji gold.   

Unsigned

Size 60mm x 20mm

Anonymous

Edo period 18th / 19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

A kagamibuta netsuke on an ivory bowl. The metal plate depicts Daikokuten carved into the face with his hammer by his feet. The bowl is in the form of a coal basket with an image of a farmer working with his hoe on the back.  

Unsigned

Size 44mm x 44mm

Issan

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Boxwood netsuke in the form of a mother shishi and her pup. The female shishi signified the yin principle was as the male represents the Yang.

41mm x 35mm

Signed Issan

Ryuzan

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Boxwood and lacquer netsuke in the form of a hyottoko mask. This mask in the Noh theatre represented a clown with the sideways mouth used in the comic dance in the Kagura.

33mm x 29mm

Signed Ryuza

Anonymous

Edo Period 19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Lacquer and metal netsuke in the shape of a butterfly. The face is made of iron kinko inlay of gold and silver. Extremally fine chisel work has been done to put hairline gold into the surface. The reverse body is wood lacquered in negoro-style lacquer with a metal loop.

Unsigned

63mm x 32mm   

 

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Ivory carved netsuke in the form of a Ko-beshimi no mask. The firmly set mouth, tightly clamped jaws, and wide-open eyes portray a powerful demon of hell.

44mm x 36mm

Unsigned