Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Manju

Lacquer manju netsuke on a lacquered concentric ring body. Details of children’s toys such as a drum, hobby horse, and fish with wheels in takamakie and hiramakie.

Unsigned

40mm x 40mm

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Kagamibuta

Ivory bowl kagamibuta netsuke, copper alloy, and Shakudo plate. This netsuke is decorated with Aridoshi, one of the One Hundred Poets. He is shown during a rain shower at night in front of a torii gate. The design is closely based on a little-known, undated print by the print designer Shigemasa (1739-1820).

43mm x 43mm

Unsigned

Anonymous

Edo Period 19th century

1615-1868

Manju Netsuke

A very interesting metal netsuke worked in wires and enamel. Wires have been laid on to a very heavy metal body and different colour enamels have been fired in the gapes in a floral design very Chinese in style. Although cloisonne became a very large industry in Japan during the Meiji period enamelling was taking place hundreds of years before that. This netsuke shares characteristics of Edo period metalwork on small fitting in temples or on sword work such as tsuba’s and kozuka.

Unsigned

41mm x 29mm

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Ebony netsuke in the form of a rain hat with drops of water on top, and inlaid metal raindrops.

40mm x 30mm

Unsigned

Anonymous

Meiji/ Taisho period 19/20th century

1868-1926

Netsuke

A Hirado porcelain netsuke of a Sarugami with a nodding head and moving tongue. Sarugami is a type of monkey-spirit in Japanese folklore and is often mentioned in tales of samurai. The Sarugami are large monkeys of extreme intelligence and often cause trouble to the human population in stories. You also find them as temple guardians with a female counterpart.

Size 83mm x 28mm   

Nagai Rantei

Late Edo period, 19th century

1830-1857

Netsuke

Ivory netsuke as an opening peony. The use of a graduated brown stain has been used on the leaves. The netsuke is signed by the maker Nagai Rantei, he was a prolific and versatile artist carving many different subjects from animals to mushrooms, plants, dojo-ji, and ghosts.

Signed Nagai Rantei

48mm x 14mm

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Netsuke

Ivory Kagamibuta netsuke, ivory bowl with mixed metal plate depicting a silver inlaid toad in water undergrowth and silver water droplets. Toads in japan are credited as having magical powers.

Unsigned

47mm x 47mm

Anonymous

Late Edo - Meiji period, 18/19th century

1615-1912

Netsuke

Boxwood Netsuke in the form of Oni hiding in a box, every January the 1st in Japan a tradition is held to cast out the Onis (demons) from their homes. Often this is represented by Oni’s hiding in wells, hats, baskets, or boxes.

Unsigned

35mm x 25mm