Meiji Period Japanese Two Street Entertainment Netsuke, 1880s

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 Noh dancer dressed in striking geometric patterned robes. The actor holds an opened war fan behind their back in one hand, a Shinto wand slung over the shoulder in the other. The war fan, tessen, decorated in red lacquer with a golden rising sun at the center. Tessen were sturdy fans used by samurai as protective devices, and sometimes as weapons. The wand, called an onusa, is a traditional Shinto ritual implement comprised of folded paper streamers, shide, attached to a wooden wand, often used in purification rituals. Here, the shide are crafted from silver maki-e, with the handle of the natural boxwood. The actor wears a fierce and unearthly hannya mask...

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...

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...

Antique Japanese Kneeling Samurai Warrior, Circa 1870-1880. Japanese Meiji period samurai with detailed presentation of robes and helmet.

Presenting a famous netsuke artist, Yoshitoshi from Japanese, a carved netsuke "Two Rats" dated around the late 19th to early 20th century.  

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