Stoney Posted April 2, 2015 Report Posted April 2, 2015 I just got interested in netsuke because of this new area of NMB. Damn you Brian!! Quote
NihontoSeeker Posted April 2, 2015 Report Posted April 2, 2015 Its show me your sword not show me your netsuke. Quote
Brian Posted April 2, 2015 Report Posted April 2, 2015 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 ) 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 Swords are a big enough minefield for one lifetime; welcome to another! 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 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted April 3, 2015 Report Posted April 3, 2015 PS If you are willing to be shot down repeatedly, you can post some shots of your treasured Netsuke over on the INS forum and post here when you have passed muster! http://netsuke.websitetoolbox.com/ Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 NETSUKE. I like Netsuke. Carved red lacquer/silver mounts. -StevenK Quote
Guido Posted November 7, 2015 Report Posted November 7, 2015 On 4/3/2015 at 3:48 AM, Stoney said: Thanks Piers I'll check it out. Do yourself a favor and stay away from it. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about ... Quote
Ed Posted November 8, 2015 Report Posted November 8, 2015 What, no more photos. Come on Guys, we know you have some nice netsuke. Quote
John A Stuart Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Big money items, just like other Japanese art forms. John Quote
Guido Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 On 11/9/2015 at 7:16 AM, John A Stuart said: Big money items, just like other Japanese art forms. John Those shouldn't be too expensive: the two ivory ones are fake, the inrō Meiji at best (can't see the wooden one clearly enough, but have my doubts). Quote
Guido Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 On 11/8/2015 at 11:22 PM, Ed said: What, no more photos. Come on Guys, we know you have some nice netsuke. Because you asked nicely - a couple of favorites from my collection: 2 Quote
Guido Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 And some more (I only collect the animals of the zodiac): 1 Quote
paulb Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 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 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 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.) 1 Quote
Ed Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 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. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 Ed, and others, just enjoy Guido's Netsuke for a while more. They have been offered for us to look and learn. They don't get much better, unless you have serious resources. I have nothing of that quality. Quote
Jean Posted November 9, 2015 Report Posted November 9, 2015 I prefer the wooden ones. My favourite represents a wasp eating a pear. Quote
Ed Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 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. 1 Quote
John A Stuart Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 Guido, how the heck can you tell that from that little picture? John Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 (SO NICE TO SEE EVERYONE HAS CONQUERED THEIR SHYNESS. Since we gave gone this far I am afraid we have passed the point of no return........Might as well keep posting.....So.....for variety..... -StevenK 1 Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 And 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 Quote
Brian Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 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. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 On 11/10/2015 at 6:37 AM, John A Stuart said: Guido, how the heck can you tell that from that little picture? John Can't really see the wood one bottom right, but I would agree on the standing figures. The answer would surely lie in a better quality shot, though! PS Steven, love that bamboo shoot. Quote
TETSUGENDO Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 Bugyotsuji- Thanks for the thumbs up on the bamboo. Its by Kohosai fyi. Its nice to see this topic garnering intererest. If you are an admirer of things Japanese I can't imagine netsuke not entering the picture at some point. -StevenK Quote
Guido Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 On 11/9/2015 at 12:58 PM, paulb said: 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. 1 Quote
paulb Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 thank you Guido I will look out for it in future Quote
Guido Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 On 11/9/2015 at 1:04 PM, Bugyotsuji said: 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 . 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. Quote
Guido Posted November 10, 2015 Report Posted November 10, 2015 On 11/10/2015 at 6:37 AM, John A Stuart said: 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. 1 Quote
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