Ivory Sculptures and Carvings

A Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant sculpture on its original burl-wood base. Old repair to the tail; some paint chips to bronze trunk; unsigned.

A finely-cast large Japanese Meiji-period bronze sculpture of a sea-hawk with stretched-out wings, made in the 1880s. The eyes are gilded; both wings and the body of the hawk are det...

In good condition From a private collection Free international shipping Japanese Buddha Okimono Figure

The charming figure, carved from a single piece of wood is exceptionally carved showing the male figure with humorous expression holding two Rabbits one by the ears and the second under his arm. A third Rabbit stands at the feet of the male looking up, each rabbit with a different expression. The male figure is wearing traditional Japanese attire with his hair tied back stood upon a naturalistic base. The figure dates to the Meiji Period (1868-1912) circa 1900. Notes The Rabbit is one of the 12 animals to feature in the Japanese Zodiac signs which follows the Chinese astrological system along with the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. Such division is connected with the Jupiter cycle around the Sun, which lasts about 12 years. As 2023 is the year of the Rabbit...

A pair of contemporary Chinese black marble left and right facing foo dogs guardian lions on rectangular bases. Created in China during the 21st century, this pair of black marble gu...

Japanese early Meiji period Noh theater mask made of carved wood with gofun layers. The piece was made in Japan in circa 1880 and is signed on the back. In great antique condition wi...

Japanese Meiji period puppet for the traditional Bunraku ningyo joruri puppet theater. The piece has a carved wood head and is adorned with richly detai...

A delightful and well carved pair Chinese red hard stone dog of Foo figures of miniature size dating from the first half of the 20th century. The figures stand raised on a solid hand...

A Japanese carved paloma wood Okimono of Jurojin (god of longevity with a turtle). A symbol of long life, the sculpture also depicts a young boy representing the beginning of life. Carved from one piece of boxwood with a beautiful rich patina. Jurojin originated from the Chinese Daoist god, the old man of the South Pole, he may have been a historical figure of the Northern Song Dynasty...

Antique, late 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty altar cabinet. This beautifully restored altar cabinet, originally used to place offerings for ancestral worship holds three frieze dr...

A signed Okimono from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912). Very rare, unusual and large sculptural assembling of a dysplaying piece of okimono. Created in Japan during the imperial period of the Meiji (1868-1912). This extraordinary piece okimono sculpture depict a group of four intricately and realistically rendered carousing males skeletons representations (Gaikotsu) standing in several position. One skeleton is crouched down playing with mouses in the floor. The second is seated resting in the other's back, peacefully smoking opium. The others two are fully standing in interacting position. The entire composition is arranged freely displayed on the wood base including a woven basket, apparently with food and four playfull mouses. There are an extra five mouses in different positions, freely playing around, all of them with the eyes accented with carved black ebony. The composition is displayed on a four-legged free form carved wood platform with an inlaid red plaque engraved with the artist's signature. The level of detail and the quality of the carving is truly exceptional. Has an exact measurements of 216.15 mm by 139.7 mm by 359.41 mm (8.51 x 5.5 x 14.15 Inches). After an extensive collection of data, comparables and references to this piece, we have only been able to find only three okimono sculptures like this, with similar themes and the same quality of work. References Note: A similar carving of four skeletons playing an animated game of dominos, signed Shutaro in an inlaid rectangular red plaque, was sold in London by Christie’s South Kensington in October 14 2014, Lot 120 Sale 5546. References Note: A similar carving with four skeletons in an otherwise typical victorian scene of a photographer and three sitters signed Shutaro in an inlaid rectangular red plaque, was sold in Edinburgh at Lyon & Turnbull in November 7, 2018. References Note: A similar carving with five skeletons seated, playing cards and drinking, was sold in London by John Nicholson Fine Art on September 26, 2018. Meiji period, is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. It was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era, upon the accession of Emperor Taisho. Okimono, is a Japanese term meaning for display an ornament; art object; or decorative object, usually displayed in a tokonoma or butsudan "Buddhist altar". It is an ornament or figure, especially one placed in a guest room. An okimono may be a small Japanese carving...

Japanese Okimono sculpture of a father and son. Very rare and highly detailed sculpture, created during the meiji period (1868-1912) in the imperial Japan, circa 1890. This sculptural Okimono is very well realized and exceptionally proportionate. Show the figures of a father and a son playing, with happiness and smiling. The father hold a big basket at his back and both personages are wearing kimonos richly engraved. This piece was made from a carving with exceptional craftsmanship and intricate details. This sculpture stand itself on his own base and have all retain of the applied ochre ink accents. Measures: 130 mm by 45 mm by 53.3 mm (5.1 x 1.75 x 2.1 inches). Weight: 81.30 grams. Note: This kind of family scene is very rare to seen in nineteenth century japanese iconography. Okimono Is a Japanese term meaning for display an ornament; art object; or decorative object, usually displayed in a tokonoma or butsudan "Buddhist altar". It is an ornament or figure, especially one placed in a guest room. An okimono may be a small Japanese carving, similar to but larger than a netsuke. Unlike the netsuke, which had a specific purpose, the okimono is exclusively decorative and was displayed in the tokonoma. During the Meiji period, many okimonos were made for export to the West. Meiji Period This is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations...