Netsuke

Developed in Japan during the Edo period, netsuke served as practical fasteners used to secure small personal items, such as pouches or containers, to the sash of a kimono. Also known as Japanese netsuke carvings, they were typically carved from materials including ivory, boxwood and antler, taking a wide range of forms from naturalistic subjects to narrative or symbolic scenes. Their compact scale allows for highly detailed carving, with each piece defined by individuality, expressiveness and a strong sense of character. Today, they are collected as miniature sculptures, valued for their craftsmanship, material and storytelling detail.

John Chamberlain (1927-2011)

Naughty (Netsuke)

A Kyoto-School Ivory Netsuke**

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY), SIGNED MASANAO

An Ivory Netsuke

SIGNED MASANAO , EDO PERIOD (MID-LATE 18TH CENTURY)

A Rare Ivory Netsuke of a Tiger and Two Cubs

Signed Tomotada (Izumiya Tomotada, active circa 1781), Kyoto, Edo period (late 18th century)

A Fine Wood Netsuke

SIGNED HOKYUDO ITSUMIN , EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

A WOOD NETSUKE OF A PIGEON

UNSIGNED, 19TH CENTURY

AN IVORY NETSUKE

EDO PERIOD (LATE 18TH-EARLY 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED RANTEI

AN IVORY NETSUKE

SIGNED KAIGYOKU MASATSUGU (OSAKA, 1813-92), EDO/MEIJI PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

A FINE AND IMPRESSIVE BOXWOOD NETSUKE

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

A fine gold ground inro and ivory netsuke

SIGNED ON THE SIDE IN INCISED CHARACTERS TAISHO MIZUNOE-INU FUYU TOKOKU FUZUI [TOKOKU FUZUI, WINTER IN THE MIZUNOE-INU YEAR OF TAISHO (1922)] WITH A SEAL BAIRYU ZO [MADE BY BAIRYU]

NETSUKE EN IVOIRE

SIGNE TOMOTADA, XVIIIÈME SIECLE

AN IVORY NETSUKE

EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KAIGYOKUSAI

A Sashi Style Stag Antler Netsuke

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

A CARVED GOLD NETSUKE OF THREE WISE MONKEYS

SHOWA PERIOD (DATED 1937), SIGNED MORIYOSHI (KOBAYASHI MORIYOSHI)

AN IVORY NETSUKE

SIGNED TOMOTADA , 18TH CENTURY

NETSUKE EN IVOIRE

JAPON, XVIIIEME SIECLE

A carved wood netsuke of a foreign warrior

Signed Kokeisai Sansho (1871-1936), Meiji - Taisho period (early 20th century)

A wood netsuke **

MEIJI PERIOD (EARLY 20TH CENTURY), SIGNED SANSHO AND WITH KAO (CURSIVE MONOGRAM)

A Sashi Style Stag Antler Netsuke

SIGNED SESSAI [HOKKYO SESSAI (1820-1879)]

A FINE IVORY NETSUKE

SIGNED MITSUHIRO , EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

An Ivory Netsuke**

EDO-MEIJI PERIOD (19TH CENTURY), SIGNED KAIGYOKU [KAIGYKOUSAI MASATSUGU (1813-1892)]

AN IVORY NETSUKE

WITH SIGNATURE TOMOTADA , EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

A LACQUER SQUARE HAKO-NETSUKE

MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED TOSHINAGA SAKU, ZESHIN SHA (SHIBATA ZESHIN; 1807-1891) AFTER TOSHINAGA (EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY)

A Fine Wood Netsuke

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

A Fine Ivory Netsuke of a Sleeping Wild Boar

Signed Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892), Osaka, Edo period (19th century)

A LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE

UNSIGNED, EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

AN IVORY NETSUKE

UNSIGNED (KYOTO), EDO PERIOD (LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY)

A COMPACT AND FINE BOXWOOD NETSUKE

SIGNED TOYOMASA , EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

AN IVORY NETSUKE

SIGNED IKKOSAI (TOUN), EDO PERIOD (EARLY TO MID 19TH CENTURY)

Fourteen wood netsuke

19TH/20TH CENTURY

A fine ivory netsuke

SIGNED TOMOTADA , EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)

A LACQUERED WOOD NETSUKE

EDO PERIOD (MID-LATE 18TH CENTURY)

A Wood Netsuke

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY)