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.
Boxwood
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...
Wood
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.
Wood
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.
Wood
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.
Boxwood
$2,172
H 1.23 in Dm 0.79 in
A boxwood netsuke depicting a mandarin with an engraved dragon, signed Tomomitsu
Located in Milano, IT
A boxwood netsuke depicting a mandarin fruit with a ryu dragon finely carved upside down, featuring a blonde horn-inlaid eye. Natural himotoshi formed from the mandarin's stem, en...
Boxwood
Japanese Collection of Boxwood Carved Netsuke Group of Four
Located in Nottingham, GB
Netsuke originated as practical toggles used to suspend personal belongings from the sash of a kimono, evolving during the Edo period into one of Japan's most celebrated miniature ar...
Boxwood
Antique Japanese Wooden Netsuke 1920s 'Mouse' 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...
Wood
A boxwood netsuke depicting a peeled mandarin
Located in Milano, IT
A boxwood netsuke depicting a partially peeled mandarin, carved with extraordinary realism. The peel reveals the segmented interior of the fruit, with every detail carefully defined....
Boxwood
Japanese Collection of Boxwood Carved Netsuke Group of Six
Located in Nottingham, GB
Netsuke emerged during the Edo period as practical toggles used to suspend personal belongings from the sash of a kimono. Over time, these functional objects evolved into highly soph...
Boxwood
$608
H 1.46 in W 1.19 in
Old Wooden Netsuke Japanese Animal Heads Figure Meiji Period, 19/20th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Weight: 11 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980’s. From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuize...
Wood
A boxwood netsuke depicting a snake
Located in Milano, IT
Boxwood netsuke depicting a snake coiled around itself. Signature engraved under the base. Origin: Japan Period: Meiji late 19th century. Dimensions: 4 x 3.5 x 2 cm. State of co...
Boxwood
Japanese Wood Netsuke " The Chi-Lin Beast" Signed, Meiji Era
Located in Norton, MA
A Japanese Antique carved netsuke "The Chi-Lin Beast" dated around the late 19th to early 20th century, signed on the bottom.
Wood
Ryusa Manju netsuke depicting a phénix
Located in PARIS, FR
Ryūsa-type manju netsuke (round in form, openwork) in carved wood, depicting a coiled phoenix. Signed Sentsui (?). Round or oval in form, the manju netsuke takes its name from the so...
Boxwood
A Finely Carved Wood Netsuke of Two Puppy Dogs Playing
Located in London, GB
A Finely Carved Wood Netsuke of Two Puppy Dogs Playing The playful puppies with inlaid eyes Wood Signed: Kokei Japan Circa 1820 - 50 Size: 3.5 dia. - 1⅓ ins dia. Provenance: ...
Wood
Japanese Netsuke of a croaking Toad in boxwood
Located in PARIS, FR
Netsuke of a wooden toad with its throat swollen. Made entirely in boxwood, the skin is treated with detail, the naturalistic pause suggests that the toad is croaking, the smooth tex...
Boxwood
A boxwood netsuke of a sennin with a sake bottle
Located in Milano, IT
A boxwood netsuke with a blonde patina, depicting a long-bearded sennin walking with a staff and a sake bottle. The garments are finely carved with precise details, while the himoto...
Boxwood
Japanese Netsuke in Boxwoord in the form of two chestnut
Located in PARIS, FR
Boxwood netsuke of two chestnuts, one smaller on top of the larger. Chestnuts are a central part of Japanese culture and gastronomy. Castanea Crenata or Japanese chestnut is an indi...
Boxwood
$1,335
H 1.19 in Dm 1.38 in
Antique Edo Netsuke 18/19th C Japanese Japan Ikkosai 'Different world in a cave'
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely and very detailed piece. Signed Ikkosai - Different world in a cave. It looks like a cave in a human brain. Very interesting Provenance: Collected in the 1980's. From the col...
Metal, Bronze
Netsuke in bamboo in the form of a mushroom
Located in PARIS, FR
Very elegant small netsuke carved from a short segment of bamboo, depicting three mushrooms caps growing at its top. Beautiful brown patina from use. Since traditional kimonos do not...
Bamboo
Old Wooden Netsuke 19/20th C Japanese Japan QUAIL Meiji Period
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Weight: 9 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980's. From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach va...
Metal, Bronze
$9,750
H 40 in W 32 in D 2 in
Stunning Art Deco Young Woman Portrait Framed Signed Rare Original Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Exquisite antique portrait painting of a young fashionable woman. Framed. Oil on canvas. Signed. Image size, 31H by 24L.
Canvas, Oil
Japanese Antique Wooden Netsuke 'Buffalo' 1920s Taisho
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...
Wood
$640Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 1.5 in W 1.75 in D 1 in
Collection of Eight Japanese Amber / Resin / Bakelite Netsukes
Located in San Diego, CA
Super cool collection of eight Japanese netsukes made of either amber, resin or bakelite, circa 20th century. There are four figurative netsukes and four of the pieces are highly ani...
Resin, Bakelite
Japanese Wooden Netsuke Cicada 1900 Meiji Sekisen
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...
Wood
$3,029
H 5.52 in W 3.94 in D 1.78 in
Antique Inro Box, Meiji Period, Lacquered Wood, Japan, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Inro is an ancient traditional Japanese box used to carry and store small items such as tobacco, money, paintbrushes, and other objects. The inro is a stack of small boxes hanging fr...
Wood, Lacquer
Japanese Resin Three Section Hand Carved Inro & Netsuke of Horses
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice vintage Japanese resin three-section inro and netsuke of horses, circa early 1950s. The piece is well carved with wonderful detail and in very good vintage condition; it incl...
Resin
$480
H 1.19 in W 2.37 in D 1.7 in
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...
Wood
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.
Wood
$420Sale 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...
Wood
$393Sale 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...
Wood
$368Sale 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...
Wood
19th / 20th c Bronze Netsuke Squirrel with a nut Japanese Japan
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
19th / 20th c Bronze Netsuke Squirrel with a nut Japanese Japan Signed Condition Period 20th century Meiji Periode (1867-1912)
Metal, Bronze
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...
Metal, Bronze
$1,875Sale Price|25% Off
H 1 in Dm 1.5 in
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...
Boxwood
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...
Metal, Bronze
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...
Wood
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.
Decorated with white cranes and the sought-after thousand-butterflies motif, the Meiji-period vessel offers both a celebration of traditional aesthetics and a clear reflection of the era’s appetite for exquisite export pieces.
For 25 years, gallerist Betsy Nathan has leveraged her keen eye and key connections to bring a unique selection of rare finds to the market.
Now working alongside his daughter Bianca, dealer Joel Chen has presented a most covetable array of antiques, art and contemporary creations for more than 40 years.
From cherry-blossom-adorned walls paired with glamorous lighting to wood-paneled ceilings above checkerboard-patterned chairs, these 12 spaces seamlessly blend Eastern and Western aesthetics.
The dealer and curator has spent the past 50 years amassing a collection of exceptional art, furniture and architectural elements that trace the cultural influence of the Spanish empire from Europe to the Americas and beyond.
These spaces exemplify how Eastern elements elevate a home's decor.