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Netsuke Rat

Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke of Rats and Snakes in Basket
Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke of Rats and Snakes in Basket

Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke of Rats and Snakes in Basket

Located in San Diego, CA

The piece is well carved with wonderful detail and in very good vintage condition; it includes a small rat netsuke. The piece measures 2.5"D x 3"H and is unsigned.

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Boxwood

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Vintage Japanese Three Rat Netsuke
Vintage Japanese Three Rat Netsuke

Vintage Japanese Three Rat Netsuke

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H 1.25 in W 1.75 in D 1.5 in

Vintage Japanese Three Rat Netsuke

Located in Chicago, IL

The lack of pockets on traditional Japanese kimonos resulted in small pouches or boxes that were strung at the waist and secured by button-like fasteners known as netsuke. Although t...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Rat on the Wood Board" Signed,  Meiji Era
Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Rat on the Wood Board" Signed,  Meiji Era

Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Rat on the Wood Board" Signed, Meiji Era

Located in Norton, MA

A Japanese Antique carved netsuke "The Rat on the Wood Board" dated around the late 19th to early 20th century, signed on the bottom.   

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Collection of Three Japanese Netsukes
Collection of Three Japanese Netsukes

Collection of Three Japanese Netsukes

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H 1.5 in W 1.75 in D 1 in

Collection of Three Japanese Netsukes

Located in San Diego, CA

There are two rat / rodent figurative netsukes and one frog piece; all are highly detailed (some with black glass eyes) and two are signed.

Category

20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Vintage Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke Ball of Twelve Animals by Kozuki
Vintage Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke Ball of Twelve Animals by Kozuki

Vintage Japanese Boxwood Inro & Netsuke Ball of Twelve Animals by Kozuki

Located in San Diego, CA

The piece is well carved with wonderful detail and in very good vintage condition; it includes a small rat ball netsuke. The piece measures 2.75"D x 2.75"H and is signed.

Category

20th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Boxwood

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Located in Madrid, ES

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Japanese Wooden Netsuke Cicada 1900 Meiji Sekisen
Japanese Wooden Netsuke Cicada 1900 Meiji Sekisen

Japanese Wooden Netsuke Cicada 1900 Meiji Sekisen

$605

H 1.19 in W 2.17 in D 1.07 in

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Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique wooden netsuke made in Japan around Meiji period 1900s. The signature is written on the back side 'Sekisen'. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th...

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Carved Boxwood and Lacquer Netsuke of a Noh Dancer, Meiji Period, Japan
Carved Boxwood and Lacquer Netsuke of a Noh Dancer, Meiji Period, Japan

Carved Boxwood and Lacquer Netsuke of a Noh Dancer, Meiji Period, Japan

Located in Austin, TX

A fine lacquer decorated carved boxwood netsuke of a Noh dancer in a Hannya role, unsigned, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The boxwood netsuke finely carved as a kneeling...

Category

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Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab and Monkey' 1920s
Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab and Monkey' 1920s

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab and Monkey' 1920s

$437Sale Price|20% Off

H 1.74 in W 1.58 in D 1.58 in

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab and Monkey' 1920s

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique netsuke made in Japan around Taisho period 1920s. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener o...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Animal Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Two Frogs on the Lotus Leaf' 1950s Showa era
Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Two Frogs on the Lotus Leaf' 1950s Showa era

Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Two Frogs on the Lotus Leaf' 1950s Showa era

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique wooden netsuke made in Japan around Showa period 1950s. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fast...

Category

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Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab Claw' 1970s Showa era
Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab Claw' 1970s Showa era

Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Crab Claw' 1970s Showa era

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique wooden netsuke made in Japan around Showa period 1970s. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fast...

Category

Vintage 1970s Japanese Showa Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Beast",  Meiji Era
Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Beast",  Meiji Era

Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Beast", Meiji Era

$395

H 1 in W 1.75 in D 1.25 in

Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Beast", Meiji Era

Located in Norton, MA

A Japanese Antique carved netsuke "The Beast" dated around the late 19th to early 20th century.

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Sculptures and Carvings

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Netsuke 20th C Japanese Japan Dog eating Skull
Netsuke 20th C Japanese Japan Dog eating Skull

Netsuke 20th C Japanese Japan Dog eating Skull

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Brutal piece. Signed. 20th century Provenance: From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen, A well known Dutch painter and artist from Amsterdam. Merkelbach van Enkhuiz...

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Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke Wild Boar 1950s by artist Tomotada
Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke Wild Boar 1950s by artist Tomotada

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke Wild Boar 1950s by artist Tomotada

$408Sale Price|20% Off

H 1.19 in W 1.78 in D 1.19 in

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke Wild Boar 1950s by artist Tomotada

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique wooden netsuke made in Japan around Showa period 1950s. The signature is written on the back side 'Tomotada'. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17t...

Category

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Materials

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Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Tea pot and Bat' 1920s Taisho era
Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Tea pot and Bat' 1920s Taisho era

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 'Tea pot and Bat' 1920s Taisho era

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique wooden netsuke made in Japan around Taisho period 1920s. Netsuke is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fas...

Category

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Japanese Professional sneezer Boxwood Netsuke
Japanese Professional sneezer Boxwood Netsuke

Japanese Professional sneezer Boxwood Netsuke

$3,563

H 1.11 in W 1.58 in D 1.78 in

Japanese Professional sneezer Boxwood Netsuke

Located in PARIS, FR

Boxwood netsuke of a seated professional sneezer depicted as an old man with his right hand raised, holding an stick to tickle himself. His head is slightly raised, his eyes practica...

Category

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Old Wooden Netsuke 19/20th C Japanese Japan Fisherman Meiji Period
Old Wooden Netsuke 19/20th C Japanese Japan Fisherman Meiji Period

Old Wooden Netsuke 19/20th C Japanese Japan Fisherman Meiji Period

Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland

Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Visible is a fisherman with 2 fishes in his hand. Weight: 19 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980's. From t...

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An Amusing Japanese Netsuke in the Form of an Octopus, Taisho Period (1912-1925)
An Amusing Japanese Netsuke in the Form of an Octopus, Taisho Period (1912-1925)

An Amusing Japanese Netsuke in the Form of an Octopus, Taisho Period (1912-1925)

Located in Ottawa, Ontario

The hand carved & stained boxwood netsuke deftly rendered in the form of an octopus with somewhat anthropomorphic features, showing black stained eyes & furrowed brow effecti...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Boxwood

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke ' Duck ' 1950s Showa Era
Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke ' Duck ' 1950s Showa Era

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke ' Duck ' 1950s Showa Era

$383Sale Price|25% Off

H 1.38 in W 1.97 in D 1.07 in

Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke ' Duck ' 1950s Showa Era

Located in Paris, FR

This is an antique netsuke made in Japan around Showa period 1950s. This netsuke was made by a netsuke artist. (you can find his signature on the bottom of this netsuke). Netsuke i...

Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Showa Animal Sculptures

Materials

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Finding the Right Sculptures-carvings for You

Asian sculptors have worked in materials including wood, bronze and jade. Artists and artisans have used traditional techniques to depict deities, scenes from culture and more, and today, antique Asian sculptures and carvings are a popular choice for provocative and sophisticated home decor.

In China, the Qing dynasty, from the mid-17th century to the early 20th century, brought about significant changes in art while preserving traditional culture. Many emperors during this period were patrons of the arts, such as painting, calligraphy and decorative arts. This era saw the building of new Buddhist temples, which were decorated with statues. Some of these sculptures were adorned with colorful cloisonné decoration, in which tiny compartments, or cloisons, made by soldering copper filaments to a metal surface were filled with vibrantly hued enamel.

From the 17th to mid-19th century in Japan, kimonos were worn across classes and often fastened with a netsuke, a type of small carved toggle. Artists carved these from ivory, wood, shells and coral, creating animals, flowers and mythical creatures. During the Japanese Meiji period, spanning from 1868–1912, the country began trading internationally after centuries of isolation, allowing artists to sell their work overseas. Bronze sculpture flourished around this time for creating teapots, vases and incense burners.

Asian sculpture continued to evolve in the 20th century. During the Japanese Shōwa era, from 1926–89, art was influenced by international modernist movements like abstraction, Futurism and Surrealism. Contemporary Asian sculptures and carvings continue to combine global influences and a rich heritage of technique.

Decorating a space with Asian sculptures and carvings is a great way to add interest to any corner of your home. Explore by material, period or style on 1stDibs.