Japan Issue Obi

Japan Issue Obi

SEALED AUDIOPHILE 30 YRS OLD JAPAN THE BEATLES SGT PEPPER ACID POP PSYCH    US $37.88

Teruo Nakamura Unicorn JAPAN OG Lp NM RARE JAZZ FUNK    US $30.00

ATB Let U Go Very Rare 10inch Whitelabel Testpressing    US $15.78

AWeX Its Our Future MEGARARE 10inch Testpressing    US $15.78

Fulham Furies These Boots UK 1978 Punk 7in Crabs    US $39.48

AMBROSIA ONE EIGHTY Japan w obi    US $.99

Molly Hatchet Beatin The Odds Rare US Promo Picture LP    US $39.48

New Order Confusion Ger 1sided Promo 7in Blue Vinyl    US $39.48

New Order Confusion Ger 1sided Promo 7in Green Vinyl    US $39.48

Nino Lopez Experience MEGARARE 10inch Testpressing    US $15.78

BLACK SABBATH HEAVEN AND HELL Japan w obi    US $12.50

BLACK SABBATH MOB RULES Japan w obi    US $20.30

CHEAP TRICK HEAVEN TONIGHT Japan w obi    US $.99

DOORS THE DOORS Japan w obi    US $18.06

GENESIS TRESPASS Japan G F w obi    US $24.50

JETHRO TULL BENEFIT Japan w obi    US $15.60

LED ZEPPELIN SAME Japan w obi    US $17.06

MILES DAVIS MILES IN THE SKY Japan w cap obi    US $11.50

MILES DAVIS SKETCHES OF SPAIN Japan w cap obi    US $15.50

TRAFFIC welcome to the canteen JAPAN orig LP w OBI promo RARE FREE PP]    US $134.30

ELTON JOHN live 17 11 70 JAPAN orig LP w OBI RED VINYL rare FREE PP]    US $110.60

SEX PISTOLS never mind the bollocks JAPAN orig LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $91.64

ROLLING STONES get yer ya yas out JAPAN orig LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $82.16

MOUNTAIN flowers of evil JAPAN orig LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $71.10

URIAH HEEP look at yourself JAPAN orig LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $58.46

KING CRIMSON in the wake of poseidon JAPAN 75 LP w OBI FREE PP]    US $52.14

JIMI HENDRIX rainbow bridge JAPAN orig LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $47.40

UFO force it JAPAN orig King LP w OBI rare FREE PP]    US $82.16

JANIS JOPLIN janis JAPAN orig DLP w OBI FREE PP]    US $50.56

Ex THE RUNAWAYS 1st 1977 JAPAN LP Cherie Currie BANNED COVER Obi G F RJ 7165    US $59.99

BEATLES white album Red First Press AP8570 1 RARE inserts    US $500.00

JOHN COLTRANELive at the Village Vanguard Impulse Japan SR 3096 DGNM    US $9.99

SONNY STITT Tune UpCobblestone Japan YS 2741 CO NM    US $9.99

THE SHOCKING BLUE VENUS ULTRA RARE JAPANESE ORIGINAL WLP WITH OBI    US $299.99

CROSBY STILLS NASH YOUNG DEJA VU ULTRA RARE ORIGINAL JAPAN 1ST ISSUE W OBI    US $299.99

KEEF HARTLEY BAND THE BATTLE OF NORTH WEST SIX ULTRA RARE ORIGINAL JAPAN W OBI    US $399.99

T REX TANX ULTRA RARE ORIGINAL JAPAN 1st ISSUE WLP W OBI BOOKLET POSTER    US $199.99

LED ZEPPELIN Japan With Obi PRESENCE Nice LP    US $3.25

THE RUNAWAYS Cherry Bomb 1st Issue PINK Sleeve JAPAN 7 RECORD w P S SFL 2121    US $39.99

Thin Lizzy Fighting Japan TOUR ED LP OBI INSERT NM    US $19.99

POCO Deliverin’ Japan OrigLP CAP OBI 1971 EX    US $24.00

Ike Tina Turner Workin’ Japan OrigLP OBI RED WAX    US $39.99

Joan Baez Golden Album Japan ONLY LP OBI FLAPS NM    US $19.99

Santana Jeff Beck Chicago VA Rock Japan PROMO ONLY LP    US $19.99

1983 Billy Joel An Innocent Man Obi Strip Inserts Shrink Wrap Japan    US $4.72

GOLDFINGER John Barry James Bond 007 Rare 1965 Japanese Promo OST LP EX    US $39.48

JIMI HENDRIX OBI LABEL STRIP JAPAN ISSUE BAND OF GYPSYS PUPPET COVER AUDIOSOURCE    US $39.99

Charlie PARKER QUARTET Nows The Time Japan 200 GRAM Virgin Vinyl Ltd LP Sealed    US $79.99

JIMI HENDRIX ELECTRIC LADYLAND JAPAN ISSUEOBI 2LP    US $129.99

THE JAM THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD JAPAN PROMO WLOBI    US $124.99

A Marvellous Dutchman Netsuke of US$230.000,- !

A netsuke (net-skeh) is a miniature sculpture developed in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Men suspended pouches (inro) on a silk cord from their sash (obi) . To stop the cord from slipping through the "obi", a small toggle is attached. That small toggle is the "netsuke".    

Dutchman 

The netsuke referred to in the headline of this article was auctioned at the German auctionhouse Lempertz on 27 November 2004. It was estimated at $60.000,- (Euro 40.000) but was hammered at a sensational US$230.000,- (Euro 154.000). This unusually large (H 5 2/5") ivory netsuke of a standing Dutchman holding a dead hare over his shoulder which is attached to a gun, dated late 18th Century, stands out by two characteristics: the somewhat caricature-like facial features and elegant dress, as well as his occupation as a hunter whose bait is an indication of the "South Barbarian meat eaters".     

Why US$230.000,-?  

The exraordinary hammer price of US$230.000,- for this specific piece can be explained by looking at its history, theme, craftmanship, condition and off course by its rarity. The object made its way over 100 years in famous netsuke collections, and was already publicized in 1895 by the Japonist art dealer Marcus B. Huish. The representation of the Westerner, especially that of the Dutchman in Japanese art (in woodblock prints and netsuke) is a much coveted subject. This because of the striking depiction by the Japanese artists of this "strange" people from another world giving the beholder a very insightful and comic explanation of the encounter of two very different cultures. The unknown creator, it is unsigned, of this particular netsuke had to be a masterful craftsman because of his magnificent eye for detail and its elegant look. The specific subject of the Dutchman is not uncommon but a quality piece in this condition in combination with its age is a very rare find.     

More examples

During the last decades there are more examples of highlights in prices concerning netsukes. On May 1990 at auctionhouse Sotheby's in London a netsuke of a horse was hammered at US$260,000,- and through an anitques dealer at Oriental Treasures and Points West in Honolulu a netsuke representing a "Awabi Girl and Octopus" (like Hokusai's famous "Dream of Fisherman's Wife (Octopus)" shunga design!) was sold at approx. US$250,000.    

Themes  

Netsuke carvers mostly worked in a bounded area of subjects and themes such as scenes of daily life, animals, erotic encounters (shunga), the signs of the zodiac or subjects with a mythical background. Whatever its subject or theme netsuke is a very attractive and highly collectable art form and the interesting pieces will only continue to increase in value.  

Books  

One of the most referred books among netsuke collectors are Lazarnick's ' The Signature Book of Netsuke' and from the same author 'Netsuke & Inro Artists, and How to Read Their Signatures'. Both have been issued in limited editions, the first one in 500 copies and the latter in 876 copies. These books are unmissable for the serious netsuke collector. More recommended books on netsuke are 'Netsuke: The Tokyo Meiko Kagami , Tokyo Living Masters List' by Shingo Yamaguchi, 'Netsuke: Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture'  by Joe Earle and 'Expressions of Style: Netsuke as Art' by Rosemary Bandini.  

Netsuke Organisations  

International Netsuke Society
International Netsuke Carvers' Association           

About the Author

We have a website called AK-Antiek and offer a large and varied collection of antique, jewelry and art. We are specialized in classic (Art Deco, Victorian...etc.) and modern jewelry, Japanese Woodblock Prints , shunga, Netsuke, inro, Cameo, antique coins, modern art and antique watches.