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Click here to subscribeA JAPANESE SHIBAYAMA-STYLE INLAID WOOD PANEL MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY The two lacquered cartouches on a leiwen ground and decorated with birds amongst prunus flowers and peonies, the inlaid elements in ivory and mother of pearl, 41cm x 27cm. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
THREE JAPANESE CARD CASES MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Two in ivory decorated in Shibayama style with inlays in mother of pearl, coral, stained ivory and metal, one depicting three fish to one side and a sponge gourd to the other, the other case with figures in luxuriant gardens to both sides, the third in lacquer decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e and nashiji with two shojo drinking out of a large sake jar and with a flowering prunus to the reverse, signed to the side, together with two small circular lacquer boxes and covers decorated with flowers, 12cm x 7cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of Anne Hull-Grundy (1926-1984) and thence by descent. Hull-Grundy was an important art collector whose bequests of jewellery and netsuke to the British Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, include some of the finest pieces in the museums' collections. Her principle for acquiring new artworks was: "if you don't fall in love, don't buy it!" and she saw herself as "a large spider sitting at the centre of a web of dealers, salesrooms and museums". She was hoping that through their collection, which also included important Martinware, she and her husband would get "a ticket to life eternal".
A COLLECTION OF TWENTY-THREE WOOD AND LACQUER NETSUKE EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH CENTURY AND LATER Some in negoro style and others in polychrome, variously depicting animals, figures, mythical creatures and objects from daily life, one with a movable ivory head, some with signatures including Gyokusai, 6.1cm max. (23) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
A JAPANESE WOOD AND IVORY ARTICULATED KOBE TOY MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Carved as a mother carrying her child on her back, their heads and hands movable, the mother's tongue and left eye sticking out and the child's neck extending upwards, 6.8cm. Provenance: from the collection of Richard Gordon Smith (1858-1918) and thence by descent. Gordon Smith was an English traveller, sportsman and naturalist who lived in Japan at the turn of the century, recording his experience in his "Ill-Spelled Diaries" and transcribing traditional myths which he later published in "Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan" (1908). Entries from his diaries were later published in "Travels in the Land of the Gods: The Japan Diaries of Richard Gordon Smith" (1986).
SIX JAPANESE NETSUKE EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH CENTURY AND LATER Two in stag antler, one carved as a small boy holding the mask of an oni and the other a curled up lotus flower, signed with the single character Tou/nori; one in lacquer depicting a cluster of masks; one gourd-shaped in wood and ivory carved with a tiger and a dragon amongst clouds, prunus flowers and bamboo; the remaining two in wood and depicting Hotei, one lying on his side and the other standing, 6.1cm max. (6)
FOUR JAPANESE WOOD NETSUKE OF FIGURES EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH CENTURY AND LATER One depicting a tall sennin standing on one leg, laughing; another of Gama Sennin, the Immortal carrying his pet toad on his head whilst a smaller amphibian clambers up his leg; the third the witch Hannya, her dragon tail curling around the bell under which Anchin hides, her head and hands in ivory; the fourth depicting a Chinese scholar and attendant under a rocky outcrop, together with a wood carving of two boys and a turtle, possibly Chinese, 10cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
lA COLLECTION OF FORTY-THREE JAPANESE BEADS, OJIME EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Strung as a necklace and made of mixed materials including ivory, coral, aventurine, glass, metal and others, variously depicting figures, animals, objects and abstract designs, two in wood inlaid with mother of pearl, coral, horn, and ivory and signed Shibayama, some others also with signatures, 2.5cm max. (43) Provenance: from the collection of Richard Gordon Smith (1858-1918) and thence by descent. Gordon Smith was an English traveler, sportsman and naturalist who lived in Japan at the turn of the century, recording his experience in his "Ill-Spelled Diaries" and transcribing traditional myths which he later published in "Ancient Tales and Folklore of Japan" (1908). Entries from his diaries were published in "Travels in the Land of the Gods: The Japan Diaries of Richard Gordon Smith" (1986) and include an illustration of a comparable ojime necklace.
A JAPANESE SHIBAYAMA STYLE IVORY BOX AND COVER MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY The square box with rounded corners, the lid realistically carved in low relief with Kikujido, the small child holding a firefly, a woven basket and sprays of flowers behind him, the sides delicately decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e lacquer with many chrysanthemum flowers, the inside with seven lines of calligraphy, the foot with a thin band of key fret and the base signed Baisensai Munehide with kao, 5.5cm. (2) The story of Kikujido, "the Chrysanthemum Boy", appears in the Noh play Makurajido. The boy remains youthful 700 years after writing the lines of the Lotus Sutra gifted to him by the Emperor on chrysanthemum leaves, when dew drops had become an elixir for Immortality.
TWO JAPANESE INLAID WOOD NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One depicting a butterfly, the wings with details picked out in lacquer and inlaid with mother of pearl and ivory in Shibayama style, the other of a low table laden with treasures including Daikoku's mallet, with details in gilt, lacquer and ivory, a large branch of coral in the centre, signed Kogyoku underneath, 5.3cm and 5.4cm respectively. (2) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
THREE JAPANESE MIXED MATERIALS NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY The first in lacquered wood and ivory and carved as Daruma, the Father of Zen Buddhism with spectacles and absorbed in the book opened before him; the second of a monkey examining a beetle on a persimmon with a magnifying glass, in ivory and with the insect inlaid, signed Shomin / Masatami in a rectangular reserve underneath; the third of a large tanuki with its young, with long grasses inlaid in stained ivory and horn to the back, signed Togyoku, 5cm max. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
THREE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF RECUMBENT MAMMALS EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Two carved as boars, one lying down with its mouth open, the other carved as one beast with its young resting on a bed of autumn leaves, the third depicting a ram, 7.9cm max. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FOUR JAPANESE NETSUKE OF DRAGONS EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Two in ivory, the first of flattened form and depicted fast asleep, holding a pearl of wisdom between its claws, signed Baikioku to the reverse; the second in Asakusa School style, its body forming a ring and with a loose ball in its mouth, signed Masakazu with kakihan; the third in wood, the beast depicted coiling around a large double gourd; and the last in marine ivory, the body of the dragon tightly interwoven, 7.3cm max. (4) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. Cf. F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part A, p.11, where a similar netsuke of a dragon by Baikioku is illustrated and discussed, possibly this very piece.
A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF A BEAUTY MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Carved as Eguchi no Kimi seated on an elephant, the courtesan reading a love letter inscribed on a long makimono scroll unrolled on her lap, her hair stained black and loosely tied behind her back, wearing long robes and tabi socks, the benevolent-looking pachyderm depicted reclining with its head lowered, signed Tomonobu underneath, 6.9cm. Kimi was a famous prostitute from the village of Eguchi who after assiduously studying Buddhist scriptures became an incarnation of Fugen Bosatsu, the bodhisattva of Universal Goodness, Virtue and worthiness. See lot 308 for another depiction of this myth.
TWO JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH CENTURY AND 19TH CENTURY One a tall Chokaro Sennin with his pet horse slung over his shoulders, typically dressed with a coat of mugwort leaves, his head turned to the side as he laughs; the other a fox dressed with long robes as a priest, holding a walking stick and with his head also turned to the side, 8cm and 7cm respectively. (2) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
THREE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY One depicting a tiger and a dragon on a rocky outcrop, their eyes inlaid in mother of pearl, signed Ikko / Kazutora; another depicting a man seated on a large shishi, holding a sake bottle over his shoulder, the lion dog reclining on a rock-shaped base; the third depicting Jurojin and his pet crane on a swirling cloud, 4.2cm max. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
SEVEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF DOGS EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Depicted in a variety of positions, two with their front paws resting on a seashell, another with a large ball; three bitches with their puppies, some with signatures including Shunzan / Haruyama and Shungetsu, 4.9cm max. (7) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF DOGS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY The first depicting Hanasaka Jiisan with his dog raking through a pile of gold coins, signed Shokyusai; the four others carved as chubby-looking puppies, one resting on a rooftile, another on an awabi shell, the third with a fish and the last a bitch with her young, some with signatures including Ranichi, Hakuryu, and Shokyusai, 5.2cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF SHISHI EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY The lion dogs with ferocious expressions; one reclining on a cushion with a mokugyo drum beside it; another ball-shaped and holding a jewel between its claws; another a cluster of five lion dogs climbing upon each other and the two others seated baring their teeth, 5cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF SHISHI EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY The lion dogs depicted in a variety of positions, all with long scrolling manes, two resting their front paws on brocade balls, two others bearing their teeth revealing a small movable ball inside their mouths; the last depicting two shishi playfighting, one netsuke signed Okakoto and another Okatori, 5.8cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
SEVEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF SHISHI EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY The lion dogs depicted in a variety of positions, one on a mokugyo bell signed Tomochika, another coming out of its egg, the third reclining over a large ball and one with its pup, signed Hojitsu, 4.5cm max. (7) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
A JAPANESE IVORY OKIMONO AND A LARGE NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY The okimono depicting a monkey and a frog on a fruiting branch of persimmon playing tug of war, with a paper collection label reading "1894" and "China Town San Francisco" to the reverse, the netsuke carved as a beribboned cat lying on a feather duster, the handle opening to reveal a short blade, 11.9cm and 11cm respectively. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
FIVE JAPANESE NETSUKE OF AMPHIBIOUS CREATURES EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY One in ivory carved as a minogame and its young, signed Shounsai; another a wood turtle hidden in her carapace; the third a nut carved as a small toad with inlaid eyes; another a grumpy-looking wooden toad and the fifth depicting five small frogs on a lotus leaf, 5cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
SIX JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Four depicting fishermen and their catches; one a benevolent-looking man resting on a small raft; another carved as Chokaro Sennin and a boy on a small boat, the Immortal releasing his miniature horse from his gourd; together with a stag antler netsuke carved as a catfish, namazu, some with signatures including Jugyoku, Anraku and Hikaku, 16.6cm max. (7) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
TWO JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF CEPHALOPODS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One carved as an octopus on an upturned pot, its mouth seemingly open in surprise as one of its tentacles gets stuck in a small clam to the side, the eyes inlaid in horn, the reverse signed Dosho above a seal reading Yashikuni; the other depicting an ama, the diving girl smiling as a large octopus entangles its tentacles around her body, her hair stained and its eyes also inlaid, signed Tomochika in a shaped cartouche to the back of its head, 4.3cm and 3.5cm respectively. (2) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One in Shibayama style depicting clams with a squid and other seashells in mother of pearl, horn, coloured ivory and shell inlays, signed Raku in a shaped reserve; another a cluster of shells to one side and fish to the other, one fugu with an opening revealing a miniature landscape inside, signed Kozan; the third with five peaches, also with miniature landscapes to the inside, signed Gyokumin and with a small paper label reading "Pekin" and "1859"; the fourth a nest of terrapins on rockwork, with insects inlaid in horn, coral and stained ivory; the last a small monkey on a peach, together with a bone manju in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower, 5cm max. (6) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FOUR JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF MONKEYS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One primate quizzically looking at a bug climbing on the fruit before it; another eating a large persimmon; the third with its young and the last wrestling with a large eagle, two with signatures for Masatomo and Tadamitsu, 5.2cm max. (4) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
SEVEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY One carved as a woman with her two children on horseback and an attendant to the side, another a boy playing the flute to a large ox lying behind him, both signed Tomochika; a third depicting Chokaro Sennin's horse emerging from his gourd, a movable ring around it; another a horse standing in a tub of water, signed Ranmei; the fifth an ox on a rectangular base; the sixth a boy seated on the back of a small elephant; the last depicting three figures dressed as Westerners, observing a large elephant, the underside carved as a seal; 5.1cm max. (7) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. Cf. F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part B, p.891, where a similar netsuke of travellers on horseback by Tomochika is illustrated, possibly this very piece.
ELEVEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One of Raijin, the God surrounded by clouds and taiko drums; another of a man surprised by two kappa signed Gyokuo; a third of an Immortal standing on a giant scroll; and eight of oni, the demons engaged in various activities, some bearing signatures for Gyokuzan, Gyokuichi, Gyokko, Shogyoku, Hounsai, and Minkoku, 6.2cm max. (11) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One large okimono-style netsuke carved as Tentoki holding a lantern; two depicting oni; the fourth of Gamma Sennin with his pet toad and the fifth a kappa grabbing the leg of a fisherman, signed Tomochika, 5.6cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
A JAPANESE IVORY CARVING, OKIMONO MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Carved as Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the military commander depicted riding a large horse under a pine tree, his mount trampling over two fallen soldiers, a two-character signature for Sukeaki in an oblong cartouche to the base, 7cm. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
TWO JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One depicting Gyoja Busho taming a large lion dog, signed Tomochika underneath; the other four armour-clad samurai scrambling to stand up, signed Masatsugu, 4.2cm and 6.4cm respectively. (2) Provenance: an English private collection, Westminster. Cf. F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part B, p.890, where a similar netsuke of Busho and a shishi by Tomochika is illustrated and discussed, possibly this very piece.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY CARVINGS, OKIMONO MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One depicting the Seven Gods of Good Fortune on a treasure boat, takarabune, another two men at their toilet, two oni assisting them, the third a couple and the remaining two carved as men holding birds, some with signatures including Shogyoku, Gyokuzan and Shigeyuki, 18.5cm max. (5) Provenance: an English private collection, Westminster.
TWO JAPANESE IVORY CARVINGS, OKIMONO MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One depicting a beauty wearing long kimonos decorated with maple leaves, standing with her head turned and holding a spray of flowers, the other a fisherman with a large basket of seashells and a small dog by his side, 10.9cm and 7.8cm respectively. (2) PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY CARVINGS OF DEITIES, OKIMONO MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Four variously depicting the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, Shichifukujin, the fifth with Daruma being attacked by a small dog while eating noodles, some with signatures including Gyokuzan, Kogyoku, Sozan, and Isshosai / Shungetsu, 7.5cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FOUR JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Two carved as Tobosaku Sennin and the Peach of Immortality, the third Susanoo slaying the Yamata no Orochi, the remaining one depicting a man struggling to carry a large shell, 7cm max. (4) PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
FOUR JAPANESE NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Three in wood, variously depicting two mushrooms, two sages conversing inside a giant fruit and a stylised doll; the fourth in ivory and carved as a basket containing fruiting branches of persimmon; together with a Chinese nut carved as two figures emerging from a giant shell, 5cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
THREE JAPANESE NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One in stag antler carved as a monkey resting inside a giant bamboo shoot; another in marine ivory of a farmer and his large ox and the third in ivory of two children at play, signed Masatoshi, 3.8cm max. (3) PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
THREE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD,, 19TH CENTURY One depicting a drunk shojo lying against a sake cup, its long hair stained red and signed Jugyoku to the base, another a shishi resting its front paws on a large bowl and baring its teeth, unsigned, the third carved as a man seated at a table with two swallows dressed in women's kimonos, signed Rakusho, 4.6cm max. (3)
EIGHT JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF BOYS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicted engaged in a variety of activities, some playing, helping adults and causing mischief, one catching a small fish out of a tank, another in stag antler laughing whilst holding a sake bottle behind his back, together with a small okimono carved as a child playing with a mask, a paper collection label underneath for "1926 Wimbledon Curphey", some with signatures including Tomochika, Gyokumin, Tomohisa, Jusen and Rensai, 6cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
NINE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE AND AN OJIME EDO PERIOD AND LATER, 18TH CENTURY AND LATER Carved as children, the ojime a toddler playing with cymbals, two netsuke depicting boys building a Daruma-shaped snowman; another in wood hiding behind a small screen, two playing a board game on a low table, another bending over a giant peach and the others depicted engaged in a variety of activities, some with signatures including Masamitsu, Tomohisa, Tomoshige and Masahiro, 4.2cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
THREE JAPANESE NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Two in ivory, one carved as a monkey seated on a rock and scratching his head, the other Gama Sennin, the Immortal typically depicted wearing mugwort leaves and with his pet toad clinging onto his shoulder, together with a stag antler netsuke of a traveller with a wide brimmed hat and a walking stick, 8.5cm max. (3) Provenance: an English private collection, Westminster.
FOUR JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One carved as Shoki the Demon Queller with a small oni on his large brimmed hat; another a samurai holding a lance with another man at his feet, signed Tomohisa; the third an archer holding a broken arrow and the fourth a Mongolian horse rider, together with a stag antler netsuke of Gama Sennin, 8.3cm max. (5) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
A JAPANESE TOKYO SCHOOL IVORY CARVING BY SHIMAMURA SHUNMEI (1853-1896), OKIMONO MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicting a mother and child, the beauty wearing a long kimono decorated with a design of chrysanthemums and brocade patterns, the back of the obi with further flowers and fans, the toddler smiling and stretching his hand towards her, the base signed Nihon Tokyo Shimamura Shunmei with a square seal underneath, 28cm. Provenance: an English private collection, Wiltshire. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE. Cf. L Bordignon, The Golden Age of Japanese Okimono, pp.202-3 for another okimono by Shimamura Shunmei and p.288 for a short biography of the artist. The author mentions his successful if short career (he died at 42 years old), and his award-winning contributions to Domestic Industrial Expositions and the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago (1893). He was also one of the founders of the Tokyo Sculptors' Society. Pieces by Shunmei are recorded in the collection of Michael Tomkinson (1841-1921) and at the Tokyo National Museum.
A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF RATS EDO OR MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicting a large rat and its two young, the parent and one of the pups gnawing on a spray of millet, the other clambering on to its parent's back, realistically carved and with the eyes inlaid, signed Okatomo in a rectangular reserve underneath, 3.9cm. Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
A JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF RATS EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Carved as a large rat and its young on an open paper fan, the rodents realistically depicted with the hair finely rendered and their eyes inlaid, the small pup clambering upon its parent's long tail, the fan decorated to both sides with flowering branches of prunus, the petals delicately highlighted in pink, signed Shomin / Masatami, with a paper collection label reading 'Shyomin' to one side and 'no.3' to the other, 4.6cm. Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
TEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Depicting figures engaged in various activities: one a hunter with his pet monkey observing another primate fighting a rabbit with inlaid eyes; another a thwarted rat catcher; the third depicting two long-legged Ashinagas; the fourth a man seated by a brazier; the fifth another trying to get a small dog out of a paper lantern; four standing figures, one naked, and the last, a man with a small tanuki on his back, some with signatures including Minkoku, Jugyoku, Saneo and Tomochika, 7cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
ELEVEN JAPANESE WOOD, LACQUER AND IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Variously depicting entertainers, itinerant manzai performers playing the drum, dancers, actors, one wearing a fox mask and another with a lion costume, two manju carved as clusters of Noh masks, and other figures, some with signatures including Tomochika, Tomohisa, Ryomin and Tadachika, 4.5cm max. (6) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
NINE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicting figures engaged in a variety of activities: one an okimono-style netsuke of three painters fighting with their brushes; another two boys playing with a frog and a turtle; a third carved as a mirror polisher; the others depicting men at leisure or working, some with signatures including Tomohisa, Gyokuzan, Gyokuji, Hidemasa, Hideaki, Ryuraku, and Ryomin, 6.4cm max. (9) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
ELEVEN JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF DEITIES EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY The gods engaged in various activities, including Hotei, Daikoku, and Fukurokuju, many carved with their divine attributes, and Daruma, the Father of Zen Buddhism, two signed Tomochika and the others Gyokuei and Kazumasa, 6cm max. (11) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicting figures engaged in various activities, children playing, a sanbaso dancer, and a tall oni carrying a smaller one on its back, some with signatures including Gyokuhisai and Tamihisa, 4.5cm max. (5) PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
FIVE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY Variously depicting figures engaged in daily activities, one a fisherman with his catch, another a Chinese man with a large sack, a third a man holding a placard, the fourth a scholar in a giant fruit writing with an oni next to him and the fifth a shojo reclining on a large hat, together with a stag antler netsuke of two figures holding large bundles, some with signatures including Hozan and Masatsugu, 4.6cm max. (6) Provenance: an English private collection, Westminster.
NINE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Depicting figures engaged in various activities, one carved as Jurojin resting with his deer, another Daikoku hiding a daikon shaped as female legs under a blanket; a beauty standing, wearing a long kimono and holding a fan; together with a ceramic netsuke of a woman carrying a large mushroom on her back, some with signatures including Ikko, Tomihisa, Rantei, Homin, Ryuei and Chikahiro, 8cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
NINE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Variously depicting figures and animals, fishermen and their catch, one Kinko Sennin riding his carp, signed Masatsugu, another carved as travellers on a boat, signed Tomochika, a horse rider and his attendant, a large ox on a rectangular base and Chokaro Sennin's horse galloping on its gourd, together with a stag antler netsuke of a recumbent ox, some others with signatures including Yasuaki, Masatsugu and Kogyokko, 6cm max. (10) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. PLEASE NOTE THIS LOT IS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE.
THREE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF RABBITS EDO AND MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One netsuke carved as a small rabbit resting its paws on the back of another, their eyes inlaid in coral; the two other netsuke depicting the animals seated on their haunches, one with amber-coloured eyes, the other with the pupils inlaid in horn, 5.2cm max. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
NINE JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE OF RATS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One with a small rodent peeking out of a wood pumpkin; three each depicting a colony of rats; a large rat with its young and the remaining four climbing over fruits and mushrooms, some with signatures including Tomochika, Ikkosai and Masamitsu, 4cm max. (9) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
THREE JAPANESE NETSUKE OF RATS MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY Two in ivory, the first depicted on a large straw hat, realistically carved and with its eyes inlaid, signed Masanao in an oblong reserve underneath; the other resting its paws on a rolled-up scroll, with its head raised and the eyes also inlaid; the third in stag antler and carved as two rodents on a large awabi shell, seemingly holding paws, 4.7cm max. (3) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent.
TWO JAPANESE IVORY NETSUKE MEIJI PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY One depicting an owl, the plump bird perched on an ivy-clad branch with two movable owlets peeping from the sides, the eyes inlaid and signed Tenmin to the base, the other a cluster of realistically carved gingko nuts, signed Mitsuharu, 4.7cm and 3.7cm respectively. (2) Provenance: from the collection of a lady of title, and thence by descent. Cf. F Meinertzhagen, The Meinertzhagen Card Index on Netsuke in the Archives of the British Museum, Part B, p.861, where a related netsuke of owls by Tenmin is illustrated and discussed, possibly this very piece.
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