Set of Three Japanese Wood Netsukes

A carved wood buddha with lacquered surface in the style of Erku (1632–1695), a monk from Edo period who was famous for hand-carving Buddha statues in a primitive style. From a single wood block of what appears to be cedar, the standing buddha was carved in an unpolished manner with exposed knife strokes that effectively depicted a subtly smiling face and the folding of the cascading robes. The rustic style is full of Mingei charm being a great example of Japanese Buddhism...

A two-tier stacking storage cabinet on comforting stand, known as Nong in Korean, circa early 20th century (end of Joseon to Korean Empire Period). Each cabinet is fitted with a pair of paneled doors opening in the center to ample storage. The upper cabinet also has a row of four small drawers on top. The stacking cabinet directly sit directly on top of the support stand. Constructed in pine frame with exposed finger joints, they were simply finished in black lacquer on top and the sides. The facade of the cabinets, however, showcases meticulously chosen persimmon wood panels. The striking wood veneer with the bold black grains were perfectly matched in mirrored fashion. Visually arresting, the dark wood grains appear like bold strokes on an abstract ink painting. The yellow brass hardware is of relatively smaller sizes with subdued motifs in order not to overtake the beauty of the wood. They consist of drawer pulls, corner brackets, petal-form hinges and larger lock plates with cutout coin design. The interior was stripped clean showing the natural wood and some residues of old lining rice paper. We can trace the Nong cabinet on offer here to the more southern providences of the Korean Peninsula where Persimmon trees grow and were harvested, such as Jeolla Do or Chungcheong Do. The wood was beloved by Korean furniture makers in Yi dynasty and used on eye-catching pieces to emphasize the natural beauty of the wood. Examining the piece, one can see extensive and deep patina incurred from its age and previous use, yet the cabinet remains aesthetically stunning as an antique piece with an unexpected modern flare. For a similar two-tier chest with near identical configuration, size and wood used, see relic no 007182 in the collection of National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul. The piece is also illustrated on the cover as well as page 46 of the book "Korean Antique...

A collection of four carved wood print blocks from Japan circa late 19th century (Meiji Period). Constructed and hand-chiseled from hardwood, the printing blocks were finely carved o...

A collection of two ceramic chaires (Tea caddies) of Ko-seto ware type from Edo period Japan circa 17-18th century. This type of small jar was made of stoneware in old Seto kilns in ...

Set of Asian carved wood Zen figures. Great vintage set of 3 carved wood Asian male zen figures or sculptures. Each figure is in a different posi...

A dramatic and beautifully timeworn Japanese Wood Sculpture in vaguely anthropomorphic form balanced on five points and fashioned from a particula...

A group of three early 20th Century well crafted wood Monkey figures in the classic poses of See No Evil, Speak No Evil and Hear No Evil. Timeworn and smooth feeling in the hand, each figure has meticulously carved incising representing fur and dark glass eyes (Monkey representing Speak No Evil has a missing eye). Each Monkey with extended and hooked arm and leg used to link the three for hanging however a loss to the See No Evil figure's leg makes hanging tenuous. with the age, losses and wear the figures have taken on the air of Scholar's Objects to be handled and displayed. Dimensions below are for each Monkey figure. Dimensions:7.25: high by 2.25" deep by 2.25" wide. Condition: Please see detail photos. As mentioned above, there are various signs of age including one missing glass eye, loss to the See No Evil Monkey...

Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Weight: 12 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980's. From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen,...