The Netsuke is signed “Gyokuseki", a very famous Japanese netsuke carver. However, it is a modern Chinese netsuke with a false signature. Apparently these Chinese netsukes of many different subjects – and bearing fake names of famous Japanese carvers - are showing up in the market in increasing numbers.

Nonetheless, this modern netsuke is a very interesting and quite well carved piece. It depicts a sumo wrestler in full costume for the battle...

A fun little wooden ( probably teakwood) trinket box carved in the shape of the face of Okame on the lid – nice details to the facial expression and hair. The box measures 3 ¾” long from the top of her head to the bottom of her chin – it is 3” wide and 4 ¼” deep. Excellent condition. We date it to the about the period of 1960-1980, Showa Period. Okame is also known as Uzume and is a primitive Shinto goddess whose full name is Ame no Uzume no Mikoto, or goddess of mirth...

THE ARTS OF JAPAN: LATE MEDIEVAL TO MODERN by Noma Seiroku, , 1967 [JAPAN] VOL. II. Translated and adapted by Glenn T. Webb. Photographs by Takahashi Bin. Tykyo: Kodansha International Ltd.. First ed. Folio, 229 pp., 232 b&w and color (tipped-in) plates, illustrated endpapers. Two-toned cloth with gilt decoration, dust jacket has some minor tears, very good condition. Long out of print reference book.

Charming small Chinese pottery dish with a classic dark maroon flambe glaze, unglazed foot with an impressed mark. This little gem measures 4" in diameter and just under 1/2" deep. No way of determining age but I would bet it is early 20th century at the latest.

A handsome set of seven Japanese bamboo mukozuke that have been lacquered with a dark rust brown lacquer. The seven dishes measure 3 1/4" long by 2" wide by 3/4" high at the ends. The dark lacquer would have been a lovely contrast to the raw fish normally used in the mokuzuke serving. We date these to the mid Taisho to early Showa period, circa 1925-1940. They are in excellent condition.

A Mukozuke is a small dish used in the Japanese tea ceremony...

A handsome small Oribe glaze kogo (incense case) dating from the mid to late 20th century, circa 1950-1985. The kogo measures 2" diameter and is 1 5/8" high. It is in generally good condition with some small chips where the glaze has come off at the edges. A very similar small square kogo is illustrated in the classic reference book:"Oribe" by Takeshi Murayama,Kodansha International, Ltd., 1982 on page 25, plate # 38. That one is Edo period - the one offered is late 20th century.

This is a charming little soapstone carving done in dark soapstone - the color ranges from a light brown to a very dark almost black color. It depicts a mother monkey tending to her infant monkey - nice detail and a general feeling of finial caring. The piece measures 5" long by 4" high by 2 1/2" thick and is in excellent condition. We date it to the period of 1900-1920s.

This is a very interesting solid bronze casting that we think might have been a hand guard on some sort of Japanese weapon. It is obviously not a tsuba (sword guard) because the opening on a tsuba is a narrow oval through which the sword extends...

"THE ART OF JAPANESE PAPER: Masks, Lanterns, Kites, Dolls, Origami" by Dominique BUISSON. A SUPERB REFERENCE ON THE ART OF USING PAPER FOR ART WORKS [Paris 1992] , Terrail. Red boards, near mint with fine dust jacket, large size ca...