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

A charming and finely decorated carved and lacquered boxwood netsuke of Hotei by Shunsho (probably Shunsho XI, Masaoki), Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. This delightful and colorful netsuke features the beloved figure Hotei, one of the Seven Lucky Gods. The god of fortune and happiness is seated upon his treasure bag, and being dragged by a smiling child. Carved from boxwood and decorated in bright lacquers of gold, silver, red, black and green. Hotei's chest and ample stomach mostly exposed, his skin covered in gold lacquer. Large elephantine ears frame his bearded face. His red-lipped mouth open in an uproarious laugh. Hotei's treasure bag formed as a patchwork of various brocades in gold, red, and black lacquer. The black lacquer further decorated in the lac burgaute...

A very fine and detailed Tokyo School cast bronze okimono (decorative sculpture) of a smiling farmer, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan. The e...

An attractive and esoteric Japanese carved and gilt wood figure of Fukukenjaku Kannon, Amoghapasa, Meiji period or earlier, Japan. Fukukenjaku Kannon is portrayed in an usual six...

A spectacular Japanese cast, carved, and parcel gilt bronze sculpture, okimono, of a kneeling samurai archer, signed Kiyotsugu (died 1894), Meiji ...

A striking pair of Japanese gilt bronze komainu by the renowned Japanese sculptor, Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913), Meiji period, Japan. The pair well cast, and robustly modeled. They ar...

An unusual Japanese carved wood, lacquer, and gilt decorated portrait sculpture of a shogun, Edo Period, early 19th century, Japan. The unidentified shogun (possibly Tokugawa Iey...

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 boxwood netsuke depicting a skeleton. The skeleton naturalistically carved in the foetal position in preparation for transitional burial. With...

Japanese carved wood Noh mask depicting Okina. The piece was made during the late Edo - early Meiji period in the 19th century. The mask is of an older man wi...

Wooden netsuke featuring a group of three chestnuts. One of them reveals a tiny hole and the head of a small worm in bone inlay, offering a very naturalistic representation. Chestnu...

This is an outstanding pair of Meiji Period carved hardwood figures of a ferocious lion and tiger. The carving is exceptional as is the bone detailing of the mouthes and teeth. The f...

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...