An ivory netsuke of a fishing girl with an octopus. Late 19th centuryClad only in a thin skirt, seated on and pulling at the octopus’ scalp whilst...

A boxwood and ivory shunga netsuke, by Masakazu. Late 19th centuryA houseboat with a thatched, removeable roof over the middle section concealing ...

A Tokyo school ivory netsuke of a couple washing, by Tomochika. Late 19th centuryA couple washing whilst the rat, which the man is trying to catch...

An ivory netsuke of armour (yoroi) on its box. 19th centuryA very rare depiction of a samurai armour with moveable kabuto on the wooden box, which...

A boxwood netsuke of a straw horse (shinobigoma). 19th centuryComposed of various bundles of straw held together by a knotted saddle cloth on the ...

An ebony netsuke of a pilgrim’s hat. Early 19th centuryWith a dragonfly inlaid in lead and colourful mother of pearl.Width 4.3 cmProvenanceEstate ...

An Ise school wood netsuke of a coin chain, by Masanao. Mid-19th centuryCoins threaded on a strong cord with thick knots at both ends. Boxwood, th...

An ivory netsuke of a pair of monkeys. Around 1800Lying face down, the male with his hind legs drawn up and the female with her front paws on the ...

A boxwood and ivory netsuke of a monkey with a worm. Mid-19th centuryStanding on a twin horse chestnut, attempting to catch a worm. Very finely ca...

A lacquer on wood netsuke of a monkey on a deer. 18th centuryPlayfully seated on the back of a reclining deer, holding the ends of the deer’s long...

An ivory netsuke of a monkey in a peach. 18th centuryA large peach on a leafed stalk with a small monkey standing inside the fruit, holding a peac...

A boxwood netsuke of a greyhound. 18th centurySeated with its head turned to the side, with a curled tail and a bell on its wide collar. Finely ca...

A boxwood netsuke of a small dog and a fan. Early 19th centuryLonghaired, lying on a fan (uchiwa). Very finely carved and engraved, the eyes inlai...

A Tokyo school ivory netsuke of a puppy on a fan, by Gyokuyôsai. Mid-19th centuryA puppy with an unusually bushy, very finely engraved tail, lying...

A walrus tooth netsuke of a dog on an oval base. Second half 19th centuryA so-called kame dog with a curled tail seated on an oval base, looking a...

An ivory netsuke of a dog. 18th centuryA puppy with a curled tail, seated and looking around. Finely engraved fur with some light staining. Eyes i...

A stag antler netsuke of a small dog. Early 19th centuryOf roundish stature, with a short, curved tail. Well carved and polished, the eyes inlaid ...

A Kyoto school ivory netsuke of a wolf and monkey, by Okakoto. First half 19th centuryWith the long tail placed between its front legs, the seated...

An ivory netsuke of a dancing fox. 18th centuryThe front paws raised parallel and his long tail held up high. Finely polished with a nice, golden-...

An ivory netsuke of a fox. Around 1800Standing upright in wide-armed robes with a bamboo staff in its hands. Finely carved, engraved and a nice, g...

A boxwood netsuke of a badger on a straw hat. Mid-19th centuryStanding on a straw hat, alertly sniffing the air to detect the rat hiding underneat...

A boxwood seal netsuke. 19th centuryA shishi with a bushy tail standing on a round base. Face, musculature and wisps of fur finely engraved.Height...

A bamboo seal netsuke. 18th/19th centuryCarved from a thick bamboo cane with a seated shishi with a boy on his back. The high base boldly engraved...

An ivory netsuke of a shishi with a ball. Late 19th centuryA small, rounded rectangular seal, with a seated shishi on a large ball.Height 2.2 cmPr...

An ivory netsuke of a seated shishi. Around 1800The temple lion sitting upright and wearing a finely engraved collar, with flames emanating from t...

A boxwood netsuke of fighting shishi. 18th centuryTwo large fighting shishi, one on its back with the other standing over it, pinning it down with...

An Osaka school ivory netsuke of a shishi no tamago, by Anraku. Mid-19th centuryEmerging from an egg, the head, upper body and curly fleece and ta...

An ivory netsuke of a rat on beans. Last third 19th centuryA rat with a long tail climbing on two beans which hang from a leafy stem. Finely carve...

A wood okimono netsuke of a rat on a mortar. Late 19th centuryUsing one leg to push down the handle, the pestle at the other end crushing the cont...

A boxwood netsuke of a tiger. 18th centuryA powerful tiger, seated, pinning its long tail under its right forepaw. With delicately delineated fur ...

A boxwood netsuke of a tiger. First half 19th centurySeated, the jaws slightly opened, the tip of the long alert tail raised to the chin. Sensitiv...

An Asakusa-school ivory netsuke of a cat in a kimono, by Masayuki. Mid-19th centuryStanding upright and clothed as an elegant young lady. In Japan...

An ivory netsuke of a cat. 19th centuryWith a speckled coat and alert tail, ready to jump. Well carved with finely engraved spotted fur, the eyes ...

An ivory netsuke of a mother hare with her young. First half 19th centuryA large, piebald female hare with long ears, seated upright with her head...

A boxwood netsuke of a leaping hare. 19th centuryLanding on its forepaws with the hind paws still high up in the air, the ears flapping. Very fin...

A marine ivory netsuke of two hares jumping over waves. 18th centuryTwo hares in spray, one sitting ducked on the crown of the wave, the other har...

A boxwood netsuke of a hare. 19th centurySeated, the head turned. Very finely engraved and dark-stained fur, the large eyes of light-coloured horn...

An ivory netsuke of a seated hare. 19th centuryWith long ears. Finely carved and polished, the eyes inlaid in dark brown horn.Length 3 cmProvenanc...

A Kyoto school ivory netsuke of a horse, by Mitsuharu. Mid-18th centuryThe right foreleg slightly raised, and the head lowered to attentively stud...

A tagayasan wood netsuke of a reclining horse. Probably last third 19th centuryThe head turned to the side. Nicely polished, the mane and long tai...

An ivory netsuke of a horse on an oval base. Late 19th centurySaddled with stirrups and bridle and standing on an oval base. Finely carved and eng...

An ebony netsuke of a reclining ox, by Sekiran. Late 19th centurySigned Sekiran at the age of 75 (Gyonen nana jû sai sekiran) on an inlaid, oblong...

A softwood netsuke of a deer. 18th centuryCarved out of hinoki wood, the deer stands with its legs placed close together and the head lowered, the...

A Tokyo school ivory netsuke of a goat. 18th centuryLooking around, the reclining goat is well carved with finely engraved and dark-stained shaggy...

A boxwood netsuke of a goat. 18th centuryReclining, with its head held high, the legs under the body as if moving and the long tail lying in a cur...

An ivory okimono netsuke of an elephant and boys. Late 19th centuryStanding on an oval, laterally retracted base, the elephant appears undisturbed...

A narwhal netsuke of an elephant with Chinese men. 18th centuryStanding on a flat, oval base and adorned with a saddle cloth richly decorated in r...

A wood netsuke of an eagle on a rock. 18th centuryPerched on a stylised rock, the feathers of the large wings delineated with engraving. Dark red-...

Duck. Wood. Second half 19th centuryA swimming duck, strongly stylised, in a modern, almost European style. Inscribed Kômin.Length 4 cmProvenanceC...

An ivory netsuke of a pheasant. Early 19th centuryStanding on an oval base, pecking at a millet cob on a twig suspended with painterly, rounded le...

An Osaka school ivory netsuke of a hatching chick, by Doraku. Second half 19th centuryA chick hatching from a cracked egg. Very finely carved and ...

An ivory netsuke of a sparrow. Early 19th centuryOf stylised form, the large eyes inlaid with black horn surrounded by finely engraved serrations....

A wood and metal netsuke of a cockerel on a drum. Around 1800With very fine plumage and long tail feathers, seated on a drum with an inscription i...

An Asakusa-type stag antler netsuke of a swimming fish. 19th centuryCarved from a stag antler with a curved tip, the fish’s mouth wide open reveal...

A large ivory seal netsuke. 19th centuryA large signet (seal) carved from the tip of the tusk, depicting large, partly rotten lotus leaves, a bud ...

A boxwood netsuke of a turtle group, by Kômin. Mid-19th centuryThree turtles clambering over each other. Finely engraved details, entirely covered...

A marine ivory netsuke of a kingfisher. 19th centuryStylised, with an unusually long, slightly curved beak and the wings nestled tightly against t...

A boxwood netsuke of a frog and a chestnut. Mid-19th centuryReady to jump, a frog seated on a large chestnut. Finely carved and polished, the eye...

A wood netsuke of a frog. 19th centurySeated, ready to jump. Possibly of mulberry wood, the eyes inlaid with light-coloured horn with black pupils...

A wood netsuke of a frog. Second half 19th centuryA large, stylised frog peering out of a ladle. Carefully carved and polished, with a Cubist-look...