Netsuke for Yvonne

3 years ago, I started collecting netsuke, this is a real killerhabit :oops: .

Yes! What a collecting hobby that is!

I got my first netsuke almost 60 years ago when we lived in Japan. I've never looked back -- though actively collecting them is well beyond MY means these days when the minimum price for a good netsuke is $10,000.





Have you discovered the International Netsuke Society forum? http://forums.netsuke.org/

Hi Jim Lewis

Yes, I have signed in for the netsuke page....I have tried to ask a question, But fail to post an image
I wanted to show my latets netsuke, and hear an estimatet price, and oppinion about it, as I love it, and think I had it very cheap.
My avatar is my very first netsuke, I bought it on a fleamarket in nagoya, and paid 500 yen
My nevest netsuke:

Hi Yvonne & Jim
I am very new to this site so please bear with me. I came across your post which I found interesting. Here are some photos of a small one I got from an old friend who due to sickness has had to give up Bonsai. I have been trying to find out any information about it and hope that it will interest some of the viewers. The size is only 3.5cm wide and 3.5cm high



Back


Rear

I'm not certain yours is a netsuke, Paul. I don't see the two holes (Himatoshi) where the string that connects the netsuke to the inro or pouch is attached. Maybe there's one on another side.

Thanks for that Jim

I was wondering that myself, as you say there are no holes. Never mind it is good to get some info on it. My friend and person who got me interested in bonsai is too ill to remember where and when he got it.

Best I just enjoy it for what it is

Paul

Hi Poul

For what it is...the figurine is a 'daikoku' [god of wealth and fortune]. This god [always with a companion] became very popular during the late Edo Period - after the great Japanese wars. The exposed belly is a sign of wealth, the fan is without traditional war attributes, i.e a sign of peace and comfort. the overly larger bale on his shoulders often is a rise bale (prosperous fields and trades) etc.

Thanks Loke for those details, it is a big help.

I now feel a very wealthy man with the size of my own belly, though rarely exposed!!!

Thanks
Paul

Another figure that I am trying to find out about.

While clearing out my late Mothers house I came across this and can't remember if I have seen it before and know nothing about it.

I believe that it was passed down from my Grandfather, who was a marine back in about the 1900. and he travelled extensively in China and Japan, as well as other parts of the world.

Does anyone know what it is???? It is believed to be made of bone and the size is 5.5cm x 4.2cm x 2cm The only markings are the dots.

New that one IS a netsuke. It is made of ivory (your other one likely was made of some composite material and was molded). The eye may be amber, or some other semi-precious stone. This netsuke likely dates from some time in the late 1800s, while your other figure was 20th century. Mice were popular subjects for netsuke. Yours is unsigned, so it is unlikely you will be able to find out much more about it, but it is a very nice piece. The dots in sets of 3 are a bit of an oddity.

Thanks Jim

I knew that you would have some ideas on the thing.

Shame its not signed, and only has the 2 or 3 dots [holes] it is strange that there are so many of them.

I will keep searching for more details on it

Got to be a Rat.
Very lucky for you.