We found 1407927 price guide item(s) matching your search

Refine your search

Year

Filter by Price Range
  • List
  • Grid
  • 1407927 item(s)
    /page

Lot 985

BING & GRÖNDAHL Porzellanfigur ¨Lesende auf Sitzbank¨, 1. Hälfte 20. Jahrhunderts, Modellnummer 1627, polychrome Unterglasurmalerei in Pastelltönen, Manufakturmarke, H 18cm

Lot 107

Robbe & Berking, 6 schlichte Messerbänkchen, l. 7cm, versilbert

Lot 127

Art Déco Zuckerstreuer, Sterling Silber, Meistermarke Edward Barnard & Sons, London 1926,8-fach facettierter Korpus, durchbrochener Haubendeckel, h. 16,5cm, 156g.

Lot 213

Glashütte Original, auf 999 Stück limitierte Herrenarmbanduhr in Gelbgold 750, Automatik,Deutschland um 1993, beids. vergl., ergänztes Lederband (Lange & Söhne) m. orig. GG 750 Dornschliesse, silb. Zifferblatt m. aufges. arab. Zahlen, Anz. v. Std., Min., Zentralsek. & Datum, gold. Zeiger, Zentralrotor 22 St., Werk verg., Streifenschl., Kal. GUB 10-30, Ø ca. 35mm, Tragespuren, Werk läuft an, Funktion n. gepr.

Lot 221

GUB 20 Jahre NVA Herrenarmbanduhr, DDR um 1976, Automatik, verg. Gehäuse, Edelstahlbodenaufgedr., gold. Zifferbl. m. Darst. der 3 Waffengattungen Luftwaffe, Marine & Heer, Stundenindizes, Ø ca. 36mm, Werk läuft an, Funktion n. gepr.

Lot 720

Orden, Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1939, magnetisch, Hersteller "65" (Klein & Quenzer -Oberstein), sog. 3.Reich

Lot 733

Verwundetenabzeichen, Hersteller: "65" (Klein & Quenzer / Oberstein), sog. 3.Reich

Lot 734

Verwundetenabzeichen, Hersteller: L56 (Funke & Brüninghaus / Lüdenscheid), sog. 3.Reich

Lot 746

Hitlerjugend, Koppel, Hersteller: A&S (Assmann & Söhne), RZM 17, guter getragener Zustand,sog. 3.Reich

Lot 754

Polizei Tschako für Mannschaften, nach 1945, verwendet durch die Polizei Westberlin,schwarze Fiberglocke m. Herst. "Friedrich Becker & Co.KG Berlin", bez. "VUPA", neuwertiger Zustand

Lot 367

*COOPER BROS & SONS LIMITED, SHEFFIELD, STAINLESS STEEL THREE PIECE CARVING SET WITH DISPLAY CASE / ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT AUTHENTIC RECLAMATION TN5 7EF

Lot 376

*BOXED SUPER SIPOSEOPE TELESCOPE MADE BY J K M HOLMES & CO LTD / ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT AUTHENTIC RECLAMATION TN5 7EF

Lot 463

*W & J GEORGE AND BECKER SCALES IN A GLAZED AND WOODEN CABINET / ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT AUTHENTIC RECLAMATION TN5 7EF

Lot 559

*FARWIG & BULLOCK LARGE METAL STORAGE TRUCK, 12 HIGH X 30 LONG X 15.5 DEEP / ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT AUTHENTIC RECLAMATION TN5 7EF

Lot 560

*FARWIG & BULLOCK LARGE METAL STORAGE TRUCK, (LOCKED BUT NO KEY), 12 HIGH X 30 LONG X 15.5 DEEP / ALL LOTS ARE LOCATED AT AUTHENTIC RECLAMATION TN5 7EF

Lot 1499

GOLFING INTEREST, SIGNED SILVER PRESENTATION DISH JAMES DEAKIN & SONS, SHEFFIELD 1900 the circular dish engraved with approximately sixty-nine facsimile golfing signatures, with those including John Panton, W.A. Ramsay, Ben Sayors and Tom Wilson30cm diameter Qty: 921g

Lot 1506

FOUR GOLFING BOOKS 1990/00s comprising The Clubmaker's Art; Antique Golf Clubs and Their History by Jeffery B. Ellis, pub. Zephyr Publications, Washington 1997, The Golf Club; 400 Years of The Good, The Beautiful & The Creative by Ellis, pub. Zephyr Publications, Washington 2003, The Compendium of British Club Makers by Peter Georgiady, Third edition 2004, and Wood Shafter Golf Club Value Guide by Georgiady, Fifth edition 2002 (4)

Lot 1539

WILLIAM PETTIGREW OF SCOTLAND, THREE JUNIOR FOOTBALLING CAPS 1971, 1972, AND 1972-73 the first two gilt embroidered with crest and date, the third S.J.F.A. 1972-73 S.V.W.& E.

Lot 1583

CELTIC F.C., COLLECTION OF PROGRAMMES CIRCA 1965/70s including v Rangers May 1980, v Airdrieonians May 1975, v Rangers October 1965, v Morton 1969, v Dundee December 1973, v Rangers May 1975, v Hibs August 1973, along with a collection of Celtic Views, Celtic Football Guides (1958/9 & Assoc., 1961/2, and 1965-76), and assorted poster pullouts

Lot 1584

CELTIC F.C., TESTIMONIAL AND OTHER PROGRAMMES CIRCA 1960/80s comprising Billy McNeill Testimonial v Liverpool (this with central facsimile McNeill signature, but also handwritted signatures of Tommy Gemmell and one other), Bobby Moore Testimonial, Danny McGrain Testimonial v Man Utd, Jimmy Johnstone & Bobby Lennox Testimonial v Man Utd, Bobby Charlton Testimonial, Jock Stein Testimonial, also other related pieces including Robert Kelly Appreciation programme February 1969, Scotland v England April 1966

Lot 1648

COLLECTION OF TEN HICKORY SHAFTED GOLF CLUBS LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY including a Benny No. 2 putter, D. Anderson & Sons, Letters & Co., and further named examplesImages of all named examples now available.

Lot 1

A RARE IVORY NETSUKE OF A WINGED DRAGON-FISH (MAKATSUGYO)Unsigned Japan, 17th-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 45, no. 66.Powerfully carved, facing ahead with open mouth, the tail curled beneath and the wings drawn into the sides for compactness, the large himotoshi through the mouth and the underside. The ivory bearing a rich, smooth, deep honey-brown patina.LENGTH 7.3 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, expected age cracks, minor losses and chips which have smoothened over time. The netsuke re-purposed as a small handle, likely over 100 years ago.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Literature comparison: Compare three similar examples illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XXVI, no. 1449 (in stag antler), and pl. XXVII, nos. 1524 and 1525 (in ivory).Auction comparison:Compare a closely related ivory netsuke of a dragon-fish, with similar sinuous body, expression, and scales, exhibiting less wear but otherwise near-identical, formerly in the Meinertzhagen and Winkworth collections, at Sotheby's, The Carlo Monzino Collection of Netsuke, Inro and Lacquer, 21 June 1995, London, no. 148 (sold for 43,300 GBP).Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511129-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 100

TOMONOBU: A FINE NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF SHELLSBy Arima Tomonobu, signed Tomonobu 友信Japan, Nagoya, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 908.Katchen, Arlette (2010) Netsuke 7, vol. 2, p. 49, no. K579.Finely carved and beautifully stained to depict a living awabi with two smaller hamaguri clams resting on its shell. The underside shows the naturalistically rendered fleshy foot of the mollusk, achieved with subtle elevations to the wood. Two ringed himotoshi and signed within a rectangular reserve – TOMONOBU - to the top.With a wood box from H. I. H. Princess Takamado inscribed with the artist's name.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear and a fine patina.Provenance: Ex-collection Julius & Arlette Katchen, Paris. Ex-collection H. I. H. Princess Takamado, acquired from the above.

Lot 101

A FINE NAGOYA SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF PUMPKINS AND NASUBIUnsignedJapan, Nagoya, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A beautifully crafted still life group depicting an autumn harvest of one large pumpkin and three smaller nasubi (eggplants), the individual textures naturalistically detailed, and with pleasingly curling stems. The underside with large, generously excavated, asymmetrical himotoshi.LENGTH 3.7 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor associated surface wear. Fine patina.Auction comparison:Compare to a related Nagoya school wood netsuke of a pumpkin and nasubi within a basket, by Gyokumin, sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 141 (sold for 2,684 EUR).

Lot 103

TADAKUNI: A SUPERB AND RARE WOOD NETSUKE OF A JAKONEKO (MUSK CAT)By Tadakuni, signed Tadakuni 忠國Japan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)An exquisite and very finely carved wood netsuke of a jakoneko (musk cat) with beautifully incised shaggy fur, a bifurcated tail which flows up the animal's back, and long beard-like whiskers which flow downwards from its snout. The animal looks downward with a sensitively crafted expression, the eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The underside shows the superbly carved paws and the signature within a raised served in ukibori characters TADAKUNI.HEIGHT 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, a small age crack to the snout.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.The jakoneko or musk cat, often called a shaggy dog, is of African origin and entered Japan via India, when it became popular for its musk, used for perfumes.Tadakuni was a highly talented carver from the Nagoya school whose work is encountered rather infrequently. His carvings are extremely refined and his signature is usually engraved in ukibori characters. While the present netsuke is remarkably detailed and superbly finished, it also has an early feel to it, reminiscent of Tametaka who also carved a similar model of a jakoneko which likely provided the inspiration for this netsuke.Auction comparison:For a wood netsuke of a jakoneko by Tametaka see Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 122 (sold for 6,710 EUR). For another wood netsuke by Tadakuni depicting a recumbent ox see Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 109 (sold for 8,848 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 104

SHIGEMASA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SNAIL ON BUCKETBy Shigemasa, signed Shigemasa 重正 and kakihanJapan, Nagoya, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Carved from a single block of wood and masterfully stained in various subtle tones. The snail slithers across an upturned bucket, its body arched (forming the himotoshi) over the edge of the bucket, its feelers extended. The finely polished shell is stained in two different colors, with stippling and minute incision work used to achieve the heterogenous surface of the shell as naturalistically as possible – to great effect! The mollusk's body and inside of the shell is worked with further minute stippling and even the pneumostome (breathing hole) is accounted for. The bucket, as well, is carved true to life, showing the various hues of the wood and grain. Signed on top of the bucket SHIGEMASA with the artist's kakihan.HEIGHT 3.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition. Only very minor wear, some light surface scratches.Provenance: Dutch private collection, purchased from Kunsthandel Klefisch, Cologne, in 2013.The artist excelled at the carving of snails and was superior in the staining of his work.Literature comparison:For a similar netsuke by Shigemasa, signed with the same kakihan, see Lazarnick, George (1982) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, Vol. 2, p. 946.Auction comparison:Compare to a related wood netsuke of a snail on a bucket by Shigemasa, sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 120 (sold for 8,216 EUR).

Lot 107

SARI: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A SNAIL EMERGING FROM ITS SHELLBy Sari, signed Sari 左里Japan, Iwashiro, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Beautifully and naturalistically carved as a decidedly fat snail (katatsumuri) emerging from its shell with its feelers and labial tentacles folded back and resting on the shell for compactness. The ridged and spiraling shell is carved with incredible detail and the rough texture of the body is achieved through a multitude of finely etched strokes. The foot is visible on the underside, forming a curling lump with natural himotoshi going through under it. The use of staining and some gold lacquer is sublime. The edge of the shell signed SARI.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear.Literature comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari illustrated in Davey, Neil K. (1982) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 257 and p. 269 (in color), no. 794.Museum comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 19210.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a snail by Sari at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 6 November 2014, London, lot 66 (sold for 4,000 GBP), and another at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 29 October 2021, Vienna, lot 123 (sold for 7,584 EUR).

Lot 110

TADASHIGE: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A SKULL WITH INLAID STAG ANTLER TEETHBy Hogen Tadashige, signed Hogen Tadashige 法眼忠茂Japan, Nagoya, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 2, p. 1061Naturalistically carved as a skull with cavernous eye sockets, the surface incised with parietal lines and neatly polished and stippled to resemble the heterogeneous structure of the cranium. The bottom is inlaid with six minutely carved stag antler teeth. Signed in ukibori characters Hogen TADASHIGE to the back surrounding the external occipital protuberance. One large single himotoshi to the underside.SIZE 4 x 4 x 2.8 cm (L x H x W)Condition: Very good condition, minor wear.Provenance: Ex-collection Helen & Jack Mang. Sold at Quinn's Auction Galleries, The Mang Collection of Japanese Art, 7 June 2012, Falls Church, lot 209 (sold for hammer price 6,500 USD). A noted private collection, USA, acquired from the above.Tadashige (sometimes erroneously transcribed as Tadayoshi) was a pupil of Tadatoshi of Nagoya. He earned the title of Hogen during his lifetime and is regarded by Neil Davey as the most celebrated of the Nagoya carvers, his work becoming infinitely more subtle and sophisticated than that of Tadatoshi.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 112

TADAKAZU: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF TURTLES IN A BASKETBy Tadakazu (Chuichi), signed Tadakazu 忠一Japan, 19th centuryVery finely carved as a straw basket filled with turtles, two adults emerging from the basket and clambering on one another, a further young turtle visible through a hole to the side of the basket. The details are finely carved, the carapaces naturalistically rendered, all eyes inlaid in dark horn. Large, asymmetrical himotoshi underneath and signed TADAKAZU within an oval recessed reserve.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, some minor wear and natural faults to the wood.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke, by Tadakazu, at Christie's, Japanese Art & Design, 4 November 2009, lot 22 (sold for 4,375 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 113

A WOOD OKIMONO NETSUKE OF A TURTLE PILE ON A ROOF TILE, ATTRIBUTED TO TADAKAZUAttributed to Tadakazu (Chuichi), unsignedJapan, late 19th to early 20th century, Meiji period (1868-1912)Depicting a large turtle nestled within a broken roof tile, stretching its neck towards the sun, two further turtles clambering on top of it and trying to get to the highest point. The carapaces are neatly detailed and the eyes are inlaid in dark horn. The underside shows the well-carved outer surface of the roof tile, with mitsudomo-e symbol, and central bone-ringed himotoshi.HEIGHT 4.1 cmCondition: Small repair to the neck of the turtle on the top. Otherwise, excellent condition with minimal surface wear.Provenance: From the collection of Gaston Lazard (1878-1956) and his wife Jane Levy (1886-1985) and thence by descent within the same family.Museum comparison:A related wood netsuke of a single turtle on roof tile, by Tadakazu, is in the collection of the Linden Museum, Stuttgart, accession no. OA 19183.Auction comparison:Compare to a related wood netsuke of a turtle pile, by Tadakazu, at Zacke, Fine netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 84 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

Lot 120

A FINE WOOD OKIMONO NETSUKE OF AN EMACIATED RAT CATCHERUnsignedJapan, second half of 19th centuryVery finely carved as a disappointed rat catcher, wearing only a loincloth, kneeling and holding a box down, looking backwards as the escaped rat clambers over his back. His expression is masterfully worked, brilliantly capturing his anger and disappointment, while at the same time vilifying him. Note the extremely well-carved bony fingers and toes, as well as the muscular and emaciated body. The rat catcher's eyes are inlaid with dark horn. Natural himotoshi. The well-toned wood finely stained and bearing a fine patina.LENGTH 5.6 cmCondition: Very good condition. Traces of adhesive to the underside, the box itself is in good condition. Provenance: French private collection, purchased at Christie's, 26 November 2002, lot 22 (part lot).Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood okimono netsuke of a rat catcher from the same collection, signed Masayoshi, sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 111 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

Lot 129

MASANAO: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT BOARBy a member of the Masanao family, signed Masanao 正直Japan, Yamada, Ise Province, late 19th century to early 20th centuryFinely carved, the creature raising its head, the small inlaid tusks at the corner of the mouth showing, the eyes inlaid in dark horn, the hairwork superbly incised, and the crisply carved feet folded underneath for compactness. Natural himotoshi and signed within a polished reserve on the haunch MASANAO.LENGTH 4.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Auction comparison:A closely related wood netsuke of a boar by Masanao was sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 136 (sold for 4,298 EUR).

Lot 132

MINKO: A DARK WOOD NETSUKE OF A FAT TOADMinko lineage, signed Minko 珉江 with kakihanJapan, Tsu, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The bloated fat toad crouching in an alert position, the warty skin naturalistically rendered, the underside showing the large, webbed feet tucked underneath the body, forming a compact composition, the eyes inlaid in pale horn with dark pupils. The dark-reddish wood bearing a fine patina. Himotoshi to the side and underside, signed MINKO and kakihan.LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor surface wear. One eye is replaced.Literature comparison:A closely related wood netsuke depicting a crouching toad by Minko is illustrated in Ducros, Alain (1987) Netsuke & Sagemono 2, pp. 86-87, no. 155.

Lot 138

MINKO: AN EXQUISITE EBONY WOOD NETSUKE OF A RECUMBENT OXBy Tanaka Juntoku Minko (1735-1816), signed Minko 岷江 with kakihanJapan, Tsu, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Katchen, Arlette (2010) Netsuke 7, Vol. 2, p. 79, no. K249.A sensitively crafted depiction of a recumbent ox, its body hunched together forming a compact composition, the eyes inlaid in brass with dark pupils, red pigment used for some of the details such as the nostrils. The kokutan wood is beautifully polished, some of the incised hairwork is still visible within the crevices. Natural himotoshi and signed underneath the haunch MINKO and kakihan.LENGTH 3.6 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, fine patina. Provenance: Ex-collection Julius & Arlette Katchen, Paris. Sold at Bonhams, The Julius & Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I, 8 November 2016, London, lot 55. A noted private collection, USA, acquired from the above.Literature comparison: A closely related ebony wood netsuke of an ox, with red-inked signature Minko and kakihan, is illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 508.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related and unsigned ebony wood netsuke, in the style of Minko, at Van Ham, Netsuke & Japanische Kunst, 8 June 2017, Cologne, lot 1648 (sold for 3,612 EUR). Also compare to a closely related ebony wood netsuke of an ox with calf, by Minko, at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 45 (sold for 6,938 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 139

HARITSU: AN EBONY NETSUKE OF AN OX AND CALFBy Haritsu, signed Haritsu 破笠Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A delicate, remarkably powerful, and superbly carved ebony wood netsuke depicting a recumbent cow raising her head, with a sensitively crafted expression, her calf nestling up to her below and affectionately licking her chin. The hairwork is neatly incised, appropriately worn at the high points, and the ridged spine and ribs are subtly expressed. The rope halter which passes through the cow's nose ring, the curved horns, as well as all other details are achieved with exceptional detail. An area of pale-brown shading in the wood has been skillfully incorporated by the carver as a spot to the cow's haunches. The underside shows the many well-carved hooves, as well as the generously excavated asymmetrical himotoshi, and the signature HARITSU – the kanji are the same as used by Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747).LENGTH 5.3 cmCondition: Good condition with minor wear, one front leg with an old repair. Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison: Compare a similar unsigned Kyoto-school ebony netsuke of an ox and calf, 4.5 cm long, dated late 18th to early 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 42 (sold for 4,175 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 141

KOKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A TIGERBy Kokei, signed Kokei 虎溪Japan, Kuwana, Ise Province, c. 1800, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved, the wood bearing a deep unctuous patina, depicting a crouching tiger sporting a naturalistically rendered fur coat, the amusingly chubby paws pushed afore dynamically, and the thick tail powerfully curling up its backside. The eyes are inlaid with dark horn. The underside shows the signature KOKEI within a polished reserve. Natural himotoshi.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition with some minor surface wear and tiny nicks. Superb, deep patina. Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:A closely related wood netsuke of a tiger, slightly later of date, was sold by Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 27 March 2020, Vienna, lot 73 (sold for 5,256 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 142

KOKEI: A WOOD NETSUKE OF A TIGER AND CUBBy Kokei, signed Kokei 虎溪Japan, Kuwana, Ise Province, first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A beautifully refined and compact wood netsuke of a tigress snarling and protectively placing one paw on her cub's back, while the young tiger nestles up against her body, the head raised in order to lick its mother's neck. The fur is achieved in the typical manner of the artist through alternating areas of incision work and polished sections. Note also the superbly carved tail which curls around over the mother tiger's back. The underside shows the many well-carved, chubby paws and the signature KOKEI within a polished reserve. Natural himotoshi.LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Very good condition with only very little wear. Possibly a tiny chip to the very edge of the tail.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Auction comparison:Compare a closely related wood netsuke of a tigress and cub, by Kokei, sold at Bonhams, The Julius & Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 60 (sold for 4,375 GBP). Also compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a tiger and cub, by Kokei, sold at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 48 (sold for 5,312 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 143

SHIGEYOSHI: AN INLAID DARK WOOD NETSUKE OF KIYOHIMEBy Shigeyoshi, signed Shigeyoshi 重敬 to 刀Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved to depict the enraged witch Kiyohime, her inlaid face well detailed, her monstrous serpentine body coiled around the bell of Dojo-ji temple, inside which the priest Anchin is hiding, his face visible through a hole to one side. The handle of the bell can be turned to alternate between the two expressions of Anchin, one showing a pale, frightened expression and the other burnt-red from fire. The underside with large himotoshi and the signature SHIGEYOSHI.LENGTH 3.6 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear and traces of use.Provenance: German private collection.The present netsuke is mentioned in Davey, Neil K. (1974) Netsuke: A comprehensive study based on the M.T. Hindson Collection, p. 521, artist no. 2382: “One recorded. Wood. Figure of Kiyohime. Early”.Kiyohime is a character in the story of Anchin and Kiyohime. In this story, she fell in love with a Buddhist monk named Anchin, but after her interest in the monk was rejected, she chased after him and transformed into a serpent in a rage, before killing him in a bell where he had hidden in the Dojo-ji temple. The story originally appeared in two collections of setsuwa (tales), Dainihonkoku hokekyo kenki (c. 1040) and Konjaku Monogatarishu (c. 1120).Auction comparison: Compare a related inlaid ebony netsuke by Tanaka Minko depicting the same subject at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 24 November 2018, Vienna, lot 70 (sold for 8,469 EUR).

Lot 147

HARUMITSU: AN IMPRESSIVE WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED DRAGONBy Harumitsu (Shunko), signed Harumitsu 春光Japan, Yamada, Ise Province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved with meticulously rendered scales and cleverly alternating textures, the dragon coiling around itself in a powerful stance and releasing a mighty roar. The sharp claws and flames emanating from its body are testament to its might, however the rather amusing expression marked by inlaid eyes of pale translucent horn with dark pupils creates a humorous contrast. Natural himotoshi and signed within a raised oval reserve HARUMITSU.LENGTH 3.9 cmCondition: Very good condition, only very minor wear, one inlaid eye possiby replaced.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA.Relatively little is known about the artist Harumitsu (Shunko), though it is suspected he was a pupil from the Masanao line of Yamada. The present piece also shows some similarities to the school of Minko (see auction comparison).Auction comparison: Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a dragon by Harumitsu sold at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 13 September 2011, New York, lot 2025 (sold for 4,750 USD). Also compare to a related wood netsuke of a dragon signed Minko sold at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 112 (sold for 2,928 EUR).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 148

HIDARI ISSAN: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A COILED DRAGONBy Hidari Issan, signed Hidari Issan 左一山Japan, Iwashiro, c. 1840, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. I, p. 520.Sydney L. Moss (2008) Such Stuff as Dreams are made on. Japanese netsuke from the Willi G. Bosshard collection, p. 145, no. 69.Exquisitely carved as a smooth dragon coiling its body back on itself in irregular loops and clutching a sacred tama (jewel) in its left foreclaw. The underside is reticulated, well detailed with claws, scales, and a curling tail tip, and the beast's head is pulled back in a defensive pose. The glaring eyes are inlaid in bone with gilt-rimmed dark horn pupils.LENGTH 4.3 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only very minor wear.Provenance: Sotheby's, 22 January 1977, Honolulu, lot 62. Kunsthandel Klefisch, June 1996, Cologne. Ex-collection Willi G. Bosshard, acquired from the above. Sydney L. Moss, London, 2008. British collection, acquired from the above.Hidari Issan is a noteworthy and highly regarded netsuke carver, not least by Frederick Meinertzhagen who ranked him among the best, alongside Toyomasa, Tadatoshi, and Ikkan, and recorded a netsuke of his dated as early as 1798.Literature comparison:Compare a related wood netsuke of a coiled dragon with tama by Hidari Issan, with similarly inlaid eyes, illustrated in Ducros, Alain (1987) Netsuke & Sagemono 2, p. 90, no. 177. Auction comparison:The artist has carved several variations of this subject, though none of them are exactly alike. One was sold at Bonhams, The Julius and Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part II, 10 May 2017, London, lot 72 (sold for 11,250 GBP); another was sold at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 129 (sold for 10,112 EUR); and a third was sold at Galerie Zacke, 27 January 2022, Vienna, lot 600 (sold for 7,584 EUR).

Lot 149

SHOTO: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A WILD BOARBy Shoto, signed Shoto 松涛Japan, Iwashiro Province, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A superbly carved wood netsuke, of compact design, depicting a recumbent long-snouted boar with a wild hairstyle and meticulously engraved fur. The eyes are inlaid in dark horn encircled with gilt metal, which is typical for the school of Hidari Issan, whom this carver is associated with. The underside shows the beautifully carved feet which are folded underneath the body, the asymmetrical himotoshi, the smaller hole ringed in stained bone, and the signature within an oval reserve underneath the right haunch SHOTO.LENGTH 4.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition with only minor wear.Literature comparison:The artist was a rare follower/pupil of Hidari Issan and only a few of his netsuke are recorded. A wood netsuke depicting a dragon clutching a tama, signed Shoto, published in Barker & Smith (1976), Netsuke: The Miniature Sculpture of Japan, no. 247 and located in the British Museum, accession no. F. 296. further illustrates this point.Auction comparison:Compare to a wood netsuke of a boar, by Hidari issan, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Works of Art including Selections from the Collection of Ruth and Carl Barron, 16 September 2014, New York, lot 2074 (sold for 5,625 USD).

Lot 155

SUKETADA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A KAPPA TRAPPED BY A CLAMBy Suketada, signed Suketada 亮忠Japan, Takayama, Hida Province, early to mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)A very finely carved study of a kappa with one hind foot caught in the jaws of a hamaguri clam as it climbs over it. The subject references, quite humorously, a parody of the seduction of feminine wiles, the clam representing the female here. The warty skin of the kappa is masterfully rendered, the eyes are inlaid, the shell is finely carved and the long hair surrounding the kappa's swirling vital fluids on the head is minutely incised. Large, asymmetrical and generously excavated himotoshi through the underside, signed SUKETADA.The present netsuke is much more worn than other examples of this subject by Suketada and shows a distinctly beautiful patina. It is likely that this is one of the earliest netsuke of this type.HEIGHT 3.7 cmCondition: Very good condition, the wood beautifully worn with a fine patina. Some light surface scratches.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a kappa by Suketada at Bonhams, The Harriet Szechenyi Sale of Japanese Art, 8 November 2011, London, lot 54 (sold for 8,125 GBP). Another closely related wood netsuke of a kappa by Suketada at Bonhams, The Julius & Arlette Katchen Collection of Fine Netsuke Part I, 8 November 2016, London, lot 188 (sold for 5,000 GBP).

Lot 158

TAKUSAI: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A MERMAID (NINGYO)By Tachikawa Takusai (1817-1887), signed Takusai 啄齋Japan, Suwa, Shinano Province, mid to late 19th centuryPublished: Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2006) More Things in Heaven and Earth, p. 92, no. 39.Finely carved as a gleefully smiling mermaid clutching her tail and pulling it toward herself, her other hand holding a sacred tama (jewel), her facial features expressively carved, her arms distinguished with developed muscles, her lower body well detailed and neatly incised with scales and fins, her long hair flowing elegantly down her back in finely incised strands forming the 'natural' himotoshi. Signed within a smooth oval reserve TAKUSAI.LENGTH 3.8 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor expected wear. Tiny chip to the edge of the tail fin and a tiny chip to the fin underneath. Provenance: Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 2006. A noted private collection, USA, acquired from the above.The present netsuke is carved from shitan (purple sandalwood), which is riddled throughout with the traces of unusually small woodworm. Paul Moss concluded in More Things in Heaven and Earth that the wormholes were already in the material when Takusai chose it, as evidenced by the grooves lying on the surface of the wood. Other netsuke by Takusai illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. II, p. 1055-1056, show evidence of the same woodworm as the present netsuke.Tachikawa was proposed by George Lazarnick as a group of carvers with the same family name (which had been previously read as single names including most often Ryusen and less often Tatsukawa, Tatsugawa, and seldom Tachikawa). The selection of characters used in the names, the very style of rendering of these characters and the reserves in which they are often placed, the invariable use of wood, as well as the information recorded about them all point to an interrelationship among them. See Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. II, p. 1053.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related wood netsuke by Tachikawa Takusai depicting the same subject, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part B, p. 833, where Meinertzhagen described it as “a little gem of art”, and in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. II, p. 1055, at Bonhams, 25 March 2010, New York, lot 2051 (sold for 4,575 USD).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 161

KANMAN: A SUPERB AND LARGE UMIMATSU (SEAPINE) NETSUKE OF A CICADA ON AN OAK BRANCHBy Kanman, signed Iwami no kuni no ju Kanman to 石見国之住貫満刀 with kakihanJapan, Iwami Province, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Published: Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 583.Earle, Joe (2000) The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke, Vol. 2, p. 242, no. 210.Exquisitely carved as a cicada perched on an oak branch issuing twigs, leaves, and acorns, the insect's wings finely rendered with raised veins, the branch well detailed with several layers and burls, the side and underside with asymmetrical himotoshi, the underside with a sunken shaped reserve incised with the signature and inscription Iwami no kuni no ju KANMAN to (carved by Kanman, a resident of Iwami Province) with a kakihan. The umimatsu with superb natural marbling.LENGTH 8.4 cmCondition: Excellent condition, minor wear. Provenance: The Robert S. Huthart Collection.Umimatsu (lit. seapine) is in fact a species of black coral with dense texture, concentric growth rings, and amber or reddish-colored inclusions in the otherwise brown-black material. True coral is a hard calcareous substance secreted by marine polyps for habitation; umimatsu, on the other hand, is a colony of keratinous antipatharian marine organisms. As a material, it was considered risky for carvers as it was prone to crack, crumble, or chip.Literature comparison: A related umimatsu netsuke of a cicada on a log is illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 582.Auction comparison: Compare a closely related umimatsu netsuke of a cicada on a log by Kanman, with a similar inscription, signature, and kakihan, 7.6 cm long, dated early 19th century, at Bonhams, The Robert S. Huthart Collection of Iwami Netsuke Part I, 15 May 2019, lot 92 (sold for 31,312 GBP).

Lot 168

SHUGETSU I: A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF TEKKAI SENNIN Lot 191 - NE0422By Hara/Higuchi Shugetsu I, signed Shugetsu 舟月Japan, Edo (Tokyo), late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Powerfully sculpted as the immortal Tekkai wearing a voluminous and elaborately flowing robe with a bag slung over his bag and a hyotan (double gourd) attached to his waist. The immortal is depicted here as an emaciated beggar with heavy skin folds and an extraordinarily well-carved, lamenting expression. In one hand, tucked under his arm, he is holding his characteristic cane, the other hand is tightly clenched into a fist as he looks upwards and presses his lips forward, exhaling his soul with his last efforts. Large himotoshi through the bag in the back which also houses the boldly incised two-character signature SHUGETSU.HEIGHT 7.3 cmCondition: Good, worn condition. One foot repaired and a small repair to the edge of the satchel. Provenance: Ex-collection Rene Vittoz (1904 - 1992).Tekkai Sennin is the Japanese adaptation of one of the Eight Chinese Immortals (Baxian). He was thought to be capable of leaving his body, sometimes traveling for extended periods. On one occasion, he asked a disciple to watch over his body and instructed him to burn it if his spirit did not return in seven days. On the sixth day, however, the disciple's mother died, so he burned his master's body and went home. Returning on the seventh day, Tekkai's spirit found his body gone, leaving him no choice but to adopt the corpse of an emaciated beggar that he found beside the road.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke by Shugetsu I, formerly in the H. G. Beasley collection, sold at Sotheby's, Fine Netsuke & Ojme, 14 March 1984, London, lot 32.

Lot 17

A SUPERB TALL WOOD NETSUKE OF SEIOBOUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The Queen Mother of the West standing and holding a peach branch and a scythe, her expression gracious and benevolent, wearing an ornate headdress, her finely carved, tied hair forming curls in the back. Her loosely fitted robe is finely carved and tied at the waist, with downward flowing bands in the front and with long, draping sleeves, one of which forms one himotoshi, the other large cord hole in the back. The wood bearing a beautiful, dark patina.HEIGHT 9.9 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor typical wear to exposed areas. Beautiful patina.Provenance: A noted private collection, USA, purchased from Bonhams, Netsuke from a European Private Collection, 8 May 2016, London, lot 146.Auction comparison:Compare to a related wood netsuke of Seiobo, by Hasegawa Ikko, dated to the early 19th century, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 16 April 2021, Vienna, lot 173 (sold for 9,150 EUR). Another related wood netsuke of Seiobo was sold at Bonhams, Fine Netsuke from a French Private Collection, 4 November 2020, London, lot 19 (sold for 7,312 GBP).13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 18

A MASTERFUL AND VERY RARE LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE OF IZUMO NO OKUNIUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Stern, Harold P. (1972) The Magnificent Three: Lacquer, Netsuke, and Tsuba; Selections from the Collection of Charles A. Greenfield, New York, Japan Society, no.13 (unillustrated).Kurstin, Joseph & Lorin, Gilles (2006) The Peacock's Feather, Gentlemen's Jewelry of Old Japan, no. 9.Yoshida, Yukari & Kurstin, Joseph, Questions & Answers (2007) International Netsuke Society Journal (INSJ) vol.27, no.1, p.12, fig.3.Exhibited: Japan House Gallery, New York, 1972.Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, Florida, January 10-March 18, 2007.Izumo no Okuni, the foundress of the kabuki theatre, depicted here dancing elegantly, one hand touching her head and the other holding a fan, an eboshi placed in a peculiar position on her head, a long katana and a set of shide (Shinto ritual paper streamers) thrust in her obi (sash), visible in the back. Her expression is carved sensitively, signifying her beauty which she was famous for, and her kimono is adorned with various mon-roundels and neatly engraved patterns. The well-toned wood is superbly polished and lacquered in gold, the surface beautifully worn with a dark, warm patina. Asymmetrical himotoshi through the back, above and below the katana.HEIGHT 8.2 cmCondition: Very good condition, the gold lacquer beautifully worn.Provenance: Ex-collection T. Tsuruoka and Charles A. Greenfield. Ex-collection Joe Kurstin. Dr. M. Joseph 'Joe' Kurstin (1931-2021) was a prominent Miami ophthalmologist who arguably built one of the greatest netsuke collections of all time. He was known by netsuke and inro lovers worldwide and made many lifelong friends in this tight-knit community. He published several books and articles on the subject and generously lent his collection for exhibitions at the Yale University Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Epcot Center at Disney World, and The Tobacco and Salt Museum, Tokyo.As Joe Kurstin writes in INSJ vol. 27, no. 1, the subject was identified by Yukari Yoshida. Izumo no Okuni (1572-1610) is credited as being the foundress of the kabuki theatre. She was a shrine virgin (miko) of Izumo Taisha Shrine and was well known for her skills in dancing and acting, as well as for her great beauty. It was the custom of the time to send priests and miko out to solicit contributions for the shrine and thus she was sent to Kyoto to perform sacred dances and songs. Her original and exotic style of dance, known for its sultriness and sexual innuendo, became hugely popular and was labeled Kabuki, which derived from a 16th century colloquial expression, She is thought to have begun performing her new art style of kabuki theatre in the dry riverbed of the Kamo River in Kyoto. Okuni's troupe quickly gained immense popularity, and were known for their performers, who were often lower-class women Okuni had recruited to act in her all-female theatre group.

Lot 181

MIWA: A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF TWO SHISHIMAI PERFORMERSBy Miwa, signed Miwa 三輪 with kakihanJapan, Edo (Tokyo), first half of 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Finely carved as a group of two shishimai performers, one in the back sitting upright and wearing an Okame mask behind his head, his face minutely incised with a jovial expression. The other performer is hidden within the shishimai costume, his remarkably well-carved face hidden within the jaws of the lion head, the eyes of the mask double-inlaid in bone and dark wood. Very large, generously excavated himotoshi underneath and signed MIWA with a typical square seal-shaped kakihan.HEIGHT 2.9 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear and traces of use around the himotoshi. Good patina.Provenance: From the collection of Gaston Lazard (1878-1956) and his wife Jane Levy (1886-1985) and thence by descent within the same family.The Shishimai festival was imported from China during the Tang dynasty and is celebrated during the New Year to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.Literature comparison:Compare to two closely related wood netsuke, by Miwa, illustrated in Arakawa, Hirokazu (1983) The Go Collection of Netsuke. Tokyo National Museum, pp. 102-105, nos. 188 & 192.

Lot 199

A RARE SHIBAYAMA-INLAID WOOD NETSUKE OF A CAPARISONED ELEPHANTUnsigned Japan, Tokyo, late 19th centuryFinely carved with a caparisoned elephant standing foursquare on a quadrilobed oval base, the animal well detailed with narrowed eyes, a long curled trunk, curved tusks, long ears, and subtly carved wrinkles, the saddlecloth incised with a peony design within a cross-hatched border, suspending beads inlaid with coral and pale horn, the elephant's forehead similarly decorated with coral and pale beads surrounding a larger central jewel in mother-of-pearl, the base with a central ojime.LENGTH 4 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear.The subject of the present netsuke with Shibayama inlay is considerably rarer in wood than it is in ivory. Auction comparison: Compare a related inlaid ivory netsuke, signed Shibayama, 4.2 cm long, dated late 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 189 (sold for 3,792 EUR).

Lot 2

A LARGE AND RARE IVORY TOBORI NETSUKE OF A MYTHICAL BEASTUnsignedJapan, 17th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 44, no. 64.Boldly carved as a one-horned mythical beast standing foursquare atop a shaped base, its long tail furcated in neatly incised scrolling strands with one swept up to its side, the feet with further 'winged swirls', its mane and beard boldly carved with further curls. The ivory bearing a superb, deep honey-brown patina. HEIGHT 6.5 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, expected age cracks, many losses and chips, most which have smoothened over time.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.While Gabor Wilhelm suggests the mythical being can be identified as a kaichi (xiezhi), a divine beast from Chinese mythology which symbolizes justice and fairness, the mythical creature is rather difficult to positively identify as it also shares characteristics with a kirin and a luduan.These type of tobori (Chinese carvings) belong to earliest type of netsuke known. They were either carved in China and re-purposed as netsuke in Japan or carved in Japan using Chinese source materials.Auction comparison: Compare a Chinese ivory seal with a mythical beast finial at Bonhams, 21 December 2011, San Francisco, lot 8549 (sold for 6,875 USD). Compare an ivory seal netsuke of a hakutaku at Bonhams, 15 May 2014, London, lot 14 (sold for 7,500 GBP).Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207511128-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 21

A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A FISHERMAN CARRYING A BOY, ATTRIBUTED TO GECHUAttributed to Gechu, unsigned Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 31, no. 45.Exquisitely carved as a fisherman clad only in a leafy skirt, carved in elegantly flowing, neatly incised strands, standing on one foot in a dynamic pose, carrying a small boy on his back, the child wearing a short robe and holding on to his father's beard and head. Both father and son show elated expressions as they are clearly having a lot of fun in this joyful moment, although the fisherman must be in pain as the boy tugs on his long chin beard. The fisherman with the mouth wide open, showing tongue and teeth, and large eyes inlaid with dark horn. One of the strands of the straw skirt forms the cord attachment. The ivory with a superb, rich, honey-yellow patina. HEIGHT 8 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, minor age cracks, the fisherman's left foot restored.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Gechu is a somewhat enigmatic carver of netsuke, in that little is known of him, including his residence. For many years he has been thought to have lived in Osaka, mainly based upon the similarity of his work to that of Risuke Garaku of that city. Recently it has been suggested by Alain Ducros that he may well have been domiciled in Satsuma Province on the island of Kyushu, see Ducros, Alain (Summer 2016) Satsuma Ivory Netsuke, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 20-29. This type of netsuke is typically unsigned but can be confidently attributed to Gechu, or at the very least a close follower. Note the dynamism of the carving and the excellent facial expression marked by characteristically large inlaid eyes, which is quite unique and gives the face a foreign if not otherworldly appearance.Literature comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke by Gechu of a sennin with similarly large inlaid eyes, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. I, p. 399.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207509550-K). This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 217

SOZAN: A VERY FINE SO SCHOOL WOOD NETSUKE OF A PUPPETEERBy Sozan, signed Sozan 宗山Japan, Tokyo, late 19th to early 20th centurySuperbly carved as a puppeteer holding a large box with movable drawer to the side, placing a puppet female puppet holding a fan on top of the box, his robe incised with minutely carved patterns. The wood is masterfully finished and polished, and further embellished with various colored inlays. Large himotoshi to the back, the cord channel running through an opening of the man's jacket. Signed underneath the box within a red-lacquered reserve SOZAN.HEIGHT 5.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition.Literature comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke by Tokoku, depicting the same subject, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures (LNIA), Vol. 2, p. 1103. Also compare to a related wood netsuke by Gyokuso illustrated in Bandini, Rosemary (2001) Expressions of Style, Netsuke as Art, Scholten Japanese Art, New York, no. 30.13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium – only for buyers within the EU.

Lot 22

A SUPERB IVORY NETSUKE OF A SARUMAWASHI, ATTRIBUTED TO GECHUAttributed to Gechu, unsigned Japan, Osaka, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Sagemonoya (2022) A Selection of Netsuke & Sagemono from the Collection of Georgina & Gabor Wilhelm, p. 16, no. 17.Powerfully carved as a standing monkey trainer, holding his cane in his right hand, wearing a robe with finely incised folds, a small woven basket tied to his belt, his large bag tied around his neck, his monkey seated on his shoulder, wearing a patterned robe and striking an amusing pose with both hands touching his face, the monkey trainer with an equally humorous expression with the mouth wide open, their eyes inlaid in dark horn. The back with two asymmetrical himotoshi placed at angle. The ivory with a superb, honey-golden patina. This type of netsuke is typically unsigned but can be confidently attributed to Gechu, or at the very least a close follower.HEIGHT 8.2 cmCondition: Good condition, appealingly worn, fine age cracks, the feet and a section of the cane are repaired.Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris.Gechu is a somewhat enigmatic carver of netsuke, in that little is known of him, including his residence. For many years he has been thought to have lived in Osaka, mainly based upon the similarity of his work to that of Risuke Garaku of that city. Recently it has been suggested by Alain Ducros that he may well have been domiciled in Satsuma Province on the island of Kyushu (Alain Ducros, Satsuma Ivory Netsuke, INSJ, Vol. 36, no. 2, Summer 2016, pp. 20-29). In the same article by Mr. Ducros there is a similar ivory netsuke of a foreign-looking sarumawashi (fig. 13.).Auction comparison: Compare a related ivory netsuke of a Chinese sarumawashi, most likely by the same hand, dated 18th century, at Christie's, Fine Netsuke formerly in the Albert Brockhaus Collection, 25 November 1980, London, lot 95 (illustrated in color on the frontispiece). This netsuke is also illustrated in Joly, Henri L. (1966) The W. L. Behrens Collection, Part 1, Netsuke, pl. XVII, no. 812.Trade Certificate: The trade certificate for the sale of this lot within the EU has been granted (permit number FR2207509862-K).This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 223

KOKU: A STAG ANTLER KNIFE HANDLE IN THE FORM OF A MONKEY WITH A LOTUS CLOAKBy a follower of Ozaki Kokusai (1853-1892), sealed Koku 谷Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, late 19th centuryThe netsuke sized handle exquisitely carved as a tanuki-like monkey seated on a circular platform rising from a lotus blossom, wearing a large worm-eaten lotus leaf as a cloak over its back and head, the simian's fur neatly incised and darkly stained, its face well detailed with round eyes and the mouth wide open revealing tongue and teeth, the back carved with the seal KOKU.HEIGHT 6.3 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections.While the Koku seal is perfectly cut and the overall quality is indicative of this grand artist, the carving is a little too refined for Ozaki Kokusai, a more likely artist being a close follower such as Hoshunsai Masayuki.Literature comparison:Compare a related stag antler box and cover by Kokusai, with similarly carved lotus petals and leaf, also sealed Koku, illustrated in Sydney L. Moss Ltd. (2016) Kokusai the Genius: and Stag-antler Carving in Japan, vol. II, p. 322-323, no. 252. Compare also two stag antler netsuke of stylized bats with similarly incised fur and eyes, attributed to Masayuki, illustrated in ibid., vol. III, p. 78-81, nos. 375-376.Auction comparison:Compare a related stag antler netsuke of a kappa ningyo, attributed to Ozaki Kokusai but more likely by Masayuki, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke, Sagemono & Okimono, 2 November 2019, Vienna, lot 253 (sold for EUR 21,488). Compare also an ivory netsuke of a cat in a kimono by Masayuki at Lempertz, Netsuke aus der Sammlung Albert Brockhaus, 27 June 2020, Cologne, lot 529 (sold for 18,750 EUR).

Lot 228

KO: AN INLAID WALRUS IVORY RYUSA MANJU NETSUKE WITH DEPICTING THE THREE FRIENDS OF WINTER (SHOCHIKUBAI)By Ko, sealed Ko 光Japan, Tokyo, Asakusa, second half of 19th centuryOf circular form, intricately carved in openwork with craggy rockwork, thick clouds, pine, bamboo, and a jakago (bamboo basket), and finely decorated in shibuichi and copper takazogan with the stump of a tree issuing a single branch bearing plum blossoms. The reverse with a central himotoshi surrounded by bamboo leaves and pine clusters as well as a circular reserve incised with a single seal character KO.DIAMETER 4.2 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections.Provenance: From the collection of Gaston Lazard (1878-1956) and his wife Jane Levy (1886-1985) and thence by descent within the same family.Literature comparison: Compare a related inlaid ivory ryusa manju netsuke, also signed Ko in seal form, similarly carved with pines and bamboo, illustrated in Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 627.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 23

A SUPERB WOOD NETSUKE OF A MULE AND GROOMUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Rutherston & Bandini (2011) The Sheila M. Baker Collection of Japanese Netsuke and Inro, no. 17.Exhibited: Frankfurt Museum fuer Kunstgewerbe in 1991. The netsuke is illustrated in an article on the exhibition by I. Schaarschmidt-Richter titled Von der Großen Kunst der Kleinen Dinge.A remarkably large, boldly carved, and humorous wood netsuke depicting a man crouching below his mule and lifting the animal's hindleg to remove a stone from one hoof. The man's expression is amusingly crafted, aware of his precarious situation, as the mule tenses up, its ears pricked and mouth opened with agitation, presumably about to start kicking about. The eyes of the mule are inlaid in bone with black wood pupils. The well-toned wood is pleasingly worn with a beautiful patina. Natural himotoshi.HEIGHT 5 cm, LENGTH 5.4 cmCondition: Very good condition with typical surface wear and traces of use. Beautiful patina.Provenance: Sotheby's, Fine Japanese Works of Art, 23 June 1982, London, lot 520. Ex-collection Sheila M. Baker. Sold through Rutherston & Bandini. Ex-collection Teddy Hahn, Darmstadt. Theodor “Teddy” Hahn was a well-known and respected collector of netsuke and other Asian works of art. After spending time in museums to study the early cultures of the world, finding particular interest in their sculptures, he began collecting, remarking, “I somehow knew it would have a profound influence on my life. How right I was. And how happy I have been.”

Lot 238

A SUPERB STAG ANTLER MASK NETSUKE OF HANNYAUnsigned Japan, probably Asakusa, Toyko, second half of 19th centuryFinely carved with a fierce expression, the intense eyes with raised and pierced pupils, the nose bridge and forehead with cranial bump well-detailed, the hooked nose with pierced nostrils, the mouth wide open showing teeth and tongue, the back with a himotoshi bar, the stag antler with a rich, deep staining.HEIGHT 3.5 cmCondition: Very good condition, minor wear, natural imperfections with possible associated small loss to back of tongue.As evidenced by the museum comparison below (and many further examples in private and public collections), stag antler netsuke are most commonly of a rather rustic design, especially compared to the present netsuke, which boasts well-detailed and finely carved features that make this a particularly rare example.Museum comparison: Compare a related stag antler mask netsuke, formerly in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18928.Auction comparison: Compare a stag antler netsuke of an oni, attributed to Kokusai, at Sotheby's, 19 June 2001, London, lot 43 (sold for 3,840 GBP), illustrated in Wright, Douglas J. K. (Fall 2001) Auctions, International Netsuke Society Journal, Vol. 21, No. 3, p. 36. Also compare a related stag antler mask netsuke of Hotei, with a similar patina, 4.7 cm high, dated early 19th century, at Galerie Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 25 September 2020, Vienna, lot 220 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

Lot 239

MITSUHIRO: A RARE AND IMPORTANT IVORY NETSUKE OF THE GHOST OF OIWA AS A CHOCHIN (LANTERN)By Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1875), signed Mitsuhiro 光廣Japan, Osaka, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: The Honolulu Academy of Arts Netsuke Exhibit (1975) INCS Journal Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 31, no. 70.Lazarnick, George (1976) The Signature Book of Netsuke, Inro and Ojime Artists in Photographs, p. 286.Hurtig, Helen (1980) Grotesqueries in Netsuke, INCS Journal Vol. 8, No. 1, p. 32, no. 26A.Lazarnick, George (1981) Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures, vol. 1, p. 72 (in color) and p. 779.Eskenazi (1990) Japanese netsuke from the Lazarnick collection, p. 53, no. 30.Eskenazi (1998) Japanese netsuke, ojime and inro from a private European collection, p. 34, no. 26.Finely carved, the paper lantern baring the open-mouthed face of the ghastly heroine, the pupils inlaid with dark horn, her neatly incised long hair brushed back and her eyes inlaid, the incised details and inscriptions on the ivory skillfully stained for effect. The forehead bears a bonji (Sanskrit character). The back of the lantern bears an inscription Namu Amida butsu zokumyo Oiwa-jo (save us merciful Buddha, the woman commonly known as Oiwa), beside the asymmetrical himotoshi and below the signature MITSUHIRO. The staining and extensive use of sumi-e, as well as the minutely incised signature, is certainly coherent with the work of Mitsuhiro, while the size and subject matter are a departure from this celebrated artist's usual work. It is likely that the present netsuke was a one-off commission.HEIGHT 5.1 cmCondition: Very good condition with minor wear, natural flaws including expected age cracks. Provenance: Ex-collection George Lazarnick. Eskenazi, London, 1990. Ex-collection Emiel Veranneman, acquired from the above. Eskenazi, London, 1998. Sotheby's, May 2007, London, lot 785 (described as “after Ohara Mitsuhiro; sold for GBP 6,600). European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Oiwa died in 1636 and even today it is believed that she haunts the place of her death as well as anyone who performs her story which was adapted into the famous kabuki play Tokaido Yotsuya Kaidan (Ghost story of Yotsuya in Tokaido) in 1825. The story is a tale of betrayal, murder, and ghostly revenge which features Tamiya Iemon who poisoned his loving wife Oiwa, who in turn haunted him and drove him mad. The design of the present netsuke is taken from a woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) titled Oiwa-san from the series Hyaku monogatari (One Hundred Ghost Stories), circa 1831-1832.This item contains ivory, rhinoceros horn, tortoise shell, and/or some types of tropical wood and is subject to CITES when exporting outside the EU. It is typically not possible to export such items outside of the EU, including to the UK. Therefore, after this item has the necessary trade certificate, it can only be shipped within the EU or picked up in our gallery in person.

Lot 24

A FINE WOOD NETSUKE OF A GRAZING HORSEUnsignedJapan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The horse depicted in a typical posture with neatly incised hairwork, its head lowered towards the ground, the long, twisting neck with a finely carved mane, a saddle wrapped to the body with a cloth tied with a ribbon. The well-carved tail sweeps around the back below the beautifully excavated, asymmetrical himotoshi. The well-toned wood bearing a fine, dark patina.HEIGHT 5.4 cmCondition: One hoof with an old repair. Otherwise very good condition with minor expected wear.Auction comparison:Compare to a closely related wood netsuke of a grazing horse with a similar saddle cloth, at Zacke, Fine Netsuke & Sagemono, 22 April 2022, Vienna, lot 33 (sold for 4,803 EUR).

Lot 242

AN AMUSING WOOD MASK NETSUKE OF A LONG-NOSED TENGUUnsigned Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Published: Bulletin Franco Japonais, no. 50, October 1996, p. 26, no. 50.Expressively and amusingly carved as a tengu with its long nose bent to one side, his face contorted in a pained grimace, the eyes with large pierced pupils evoking a distraught expression, the details deeply carved and heightened by skillful staining.HEIGHT 4.2 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear. Provenance: Kunsthandel Klefisch, 24 June 1995, Cologne. European collection P. Jacquesson, acquired from the above.Tengu masks are popularly used at tengu festivals held all over Japan, from Tengu Matsuri on Mt. Tengu in Hokkaido, to the Shimokitazawa Tengu Festival in Tokyo. While the tengu Matsuri is a more traditional affair, the Shimokitazawa festival is a modern take on setsubun, where beans are thrown to ward away evil. People dressed as tengu take to the streets, visiting shops and homes to throw their beans of evil's bane to bring good luck and fortune.In netsuke art, the tengu mask often takes on a phallic meaning due to its long nose. In the present netsuke, however, this symbolism has been inverted, as the nose does not protrude outward but is bent to the side, a surely painful and emasculating experience which nonetheless elicits amusement.Literature comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke depicting Hyottoko, also with a long nose twisted to one side, albeit with a stern expression, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pls. 254.Museum comparison: Compare a related wood netsuke by Kokeisai Sansho, also depicting a long-nosed tengu with similar expression, 5.4 cm high, dated late 19th to early 20th century, previously in the collection of Raymond Bushell and now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.91.250.341, illustrated in Bushell, Raymond Netsuke (1975) Familiar & Unfamiliar, p. 146, no. 315 and Bushell, Raymond (1985), Netsuke Masks, pl. 327. Compare also a related wood netsuke by Deme Uman, also depicting a long-nosed tengu, 5.7 cm high, dated 19th century, previously in the Trumpf collection and now in the Linden-Museum Stuttgart, inventory number OA 18947, illustrated in Patrizia Jirka-Schmitz (2000) Netsuke: Trumpf Collection, vol. 2, Linden Museum, 2000, p. 217, no. 432.

Loading...Loading...
  • 1407927 item(s)
    /page

Recently Viewed Lots