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Netsuke


Stoney

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No...show us your netsuke!

I have seen lots for sale, but never took the plunge on any of them because the Chinese modern fakes have become so prevalent I wouldn't know a good one from a modern mass produced one.

Even the old "details on the feet" thing isn't too valid anymore.

Someone...educate us.

 

Brian

(been damned for worse :) )

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Swords are a big enough minefield for one lifetime; welcome to another!  :bang:

 

In my own experience out in the world marketplace there are three types of Netsuke. 1. Obvious fakes, 2. not-so-obvious fakes and 3. the genuine article. 

 

Obvious fakes make up around 20%, not-so-obvious fakes, 75%, and the genuine article about 5%.

 

If however you spend time in Netsuke books, a few select auction houses, private collections and concentrated London shops you can change these percentages radically.

 

There is a site, in Japanese, where the site owner makes a stab at showing the genuine article alongside fakes, and attempts to show some differences.

 

5th 口 tick/check box down, 'The Fakes'.

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~mystudy/kikite/kikitetop.htm

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  • 7 months later...

Hi Guido

I love the rats (especially the very dark one in the first post. I am assuming it is wood but I don't remember seeing anything that dark before can you tell me anything about it? I have been looking for something similar for a long time but have not come across any here at the major auction houses (certainly not of such quality)

cheers

Paul

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Steven, a sweet lacquer Hyotan. Personally I like gourds, but no-one has shown much interest in the ones I have posted elsewhere! Not popular in the West?

 

(Having invited Chad to go and get shot at over on the INS site, Guido said "Don't bother", without giving a reason. This could potentially make me look stupid in front of all. Not a problem as I am fairly stupid. My advice would be to avoid the politics and group dynamics there, and like Rudyard Kipling's cat, walk your own path at all times.)

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Thanks to all for sharing.

 

I first saw netsuke in a New Orleans shop back in the seventies and was amazed at the details carved on such small representations.  Now that I think back, perhaps none were of great quality but still fascinating to me at the time.

 

I like the cinnabar gourd, maybe not my favorite, but I like them all.  

Go ahead Piers show us your collection. I am interested in seeing them.

 

John, I appreciate your sharing. My only complaint is that the photo is so small I can barely see them.

 

Guido, those you shared are nice. I like them all, but think my favorites are the Monkey's, Tigers, Ox and Boar in that order.

 

I have very few myself, but have never photographed them.  I am certain some are fakes, but I have 3-4 that I think are legit (?).  If I can find time in the next few days, I will try to photograph them and get your opinions.

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Looked through some files and found photos of two of my Netsuke.  Both Shishi, the first standing on fore legs with hornbill & red coral eyes was described to me as a contemporary piece by Kinsui. The second, no information on this one.

 
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post-10-0-04958900-1447126055_thumb.jpg
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post-3432-0-26694400-1447142898_thumb.pngAnd just for fairness sake as we are being indulged.  I think we should do a tie in (artistic medium wise) that relates back to some of the main subjects of this site.....But, not directly.  So, since I really like the ebony(?) rat........How about a Japanese bronze scroll weight.

 

-StevenK

post-3432-0-13834600-1447142953_thumb.png

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I have no idea how to tell if a Netsuke was made 100 years ago or yesterday in Beijing. And I don't have 10 years (or the braincells) to learn about them.

So I guess I just stay far away from them. This is what newcommers feel about Nihonto I guess. Way out of my depth. I guess you don't get a real (old) one for under a good couple of hundred $'s either....so sounds to me like a minefield.

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I am assuming it is wood but I don't remember seeing anything that dark before can you tell me anything about it?

 

It's made of kurogaki (black persimmon); although not a common material, it's also not exceptionally rare. It was - besides boar tusks - the favorite material of the Iwami carvers.

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Having invited Chad to go and get shot at over on the INS site, Guido said "Don't bother", without giving a reason. This could potentially make me look stupid in front of all.

 

Only potentially, Piers :laughing: . But joking aside, if someone is into paying $ 250.- a night at conventions and $ 500.- just to get into the door, and discussions with people who actually take pride in knowing sh*t about Japanese art, history, culture and language - yes, then it might be of interest. You know why I left. The noise to signal ratio is simply too much for me.

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Guido, how the heck can you tell that from that little picture? John

 

Probably because I'm a genius. That, and collecting netsuke for even a longer time than swords and fittings. ;-)

 

Actually I thought you pulled that pic off the net, I didn't realize that those are your items. Sorry, I would have refrained from commenting.

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