AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

CARP AMONG THE LOTUS LEAVES
11 images
Ryusa netsuke "Carp under the lotus leaves preparing to jump" with ojimi in the style of Shishiabori. The ryusa is made from a piece of mammoth tusk, 5.2 cm in diameter (2 inches) and 1.25 cm thick (1/2 inch), tinted with Yashabushi, burned with a needle, mother-of-pearl for inlays. 2023. 鯉の滝登り - Koi no takinobori - a carp that ascends the waterfall through the Dragon Gate and after swimming up the Yellow River, turns into a dragon. It is a symbol of significant success. Therefore, this fish is called the king of all fish, it is considered a symbol of power and superiority. And also the carp symbolizes the desire for ambitious goals and serves as an example of success achieved through overcoming difficulties and obstacles. In the Buddhist tradition, carp means fearlessness and courage. And since carps can live up to 200 years, they also symbolize longevity. In May of each year, colorful rag carps are put on display in Japan to celebrate the traditional tango no sekku (Boys' Day), and cloth carps flutter all over Japan, a symbol of wishing boys to be strong and successful. "Koi-nobori" symbolizes the wish for boys to grow up into beautiful men and easily overcome all difficulties. The length of the carp depends on the age of the children, the largest symbolizes the head of the family. 2023. Available for purchase.
HARE AND MOON
17 images
I want to present You a two-part netsuke, Hare jumping out of a snail shell, using the Maki-e technique on the snail shell there is a spiral of eggshell with hieroglyphs denoting zodiac animals, the Hare jumping out of an endless spiral to become a symbol of the next New Year! On the snail there is also a piece of the Moon with a silver Hare and of course a fan with two running bunnies. Next year is the year of the Hare or Rabbit, the year of family and home comfort, warmth of relationships, love and joy! The sizes of two-part netsuke are 4.8 cm tall, the size of snail shell is 3.5 cm across, the diameter of black wood stand is 5.1 cm across, its thickness is 0.5 cm. Available for purchase.
KAPPA
18 images
Kappa (Japanese: 河童: "river child") is a Japanese species of mermen. Kappa is a child drowned by an oversight of adults, a child doomed to stay in the dusk of lakes, without love, care, a child offended by everyone and everything, therefore in Japanese mythology all Kappa are very evil and harmful creatures, if Kappa is given the opportunity drag someone to the bottom, it will be so. Kappa has a recess on his head with liquid, if Kappa bends down, the life-giving water will pour out and Kappa will lose his strength - this is the only way to defeat Kappa - bow to him, then Kappa will bow back, Kappa is very polite. I had already cut out the plot with Kappa on my Ryusa netsuke , and this time I wanted to create a Kappa with a ghost on the shell - an interesting idea in my opinion, I have never seen this idea anywhere. Kappa tries to see what is on his shell, and the ghost in horror has grown into the shell, now they are friends forever! The Kappa is carved from a piece of fossil mammoth tusk, tinted by Yashabushi and inked from walnuts, burned with a needle and Japanese lacquer - Urushi. Triple inlay Kappa eyes (mother of pearl, black buffalo horn and amber) and double inlay ghost eye (mother of pearl and black buffalo horn). Kappa height 6.3 cm. Ojimi is made in the form of an empty turtle shell, the cord is hand-woven. 2023. Available for purchase.
PEONIES
16 images
Peonies - surprise with their splendor, some varieties begin to bloom in Japan in winter, they can be seen under thatched huts covered with snow, and become symbols of determination, courage and endurance. In China, the peony is a symbol of spring, nobility, honor. Peonies on a stand - the meeting of winter and spring, the joy of a new life and the awakening of nature! A peony with two small buds was carved from a single piece of mammoth tusk, Urushi varnishes, silver, burnt. Peony dimensions: length - 6.1 cm, width - 4.7 cm, height - 5.1 cm. Stand length - 10 cm, width 6.7 cm. 2022. Available for purchase.
RAVEN
4 images
In Japan, the raven is called Karasu. This beautiful black bird was often depicted in engravings, poems were dedicated to it, myths and legends were invented. The Ainu considered the raven a deity and identifying with the snake, calling it the "black snake", they believed that these birds could affect luck in fishing and human life in general. The Ainu have a legend that a raven saved the sun that had been swallowed by an evil spirit. The most famous raven in Japanese culture is the giant Yatagarasu, sent from heaven by the sun goddess Amaterasu to lead the legendary Emperor Jimmu, on his campaign to found Japan, through the mountain passes from Kumano to Yamato. Manju netsuke is carved from black ebony wood, burned with a needle, dark amber inlay on gold foil, Japanese Urushi varnishes. 5.2 cm in diameter. 2023 Available for purchase.
RED SNAIL WITH 7 FANS
15 images
The fan is beautiful in itself, the fan gives coolness in the summer heat, the geisha dances with the fan, and the coquettish snail took 7 fans for good luck. Snail: red Urushi, red Kanshitsu, 7 fans and 7 different Maki-e. 7 fans – 7 different technicues of Maki-e: 1.Eggshell – Rankaku. 2.On the blue Urushi I painted blue waves and sprinkled them with silver Nashiji - tsukegaki. 3.On a black fan, I made stripes of katagami using a silver Nashiji, on top of a bamboo branch painted with gold Marufun. 4. I drew peonies on the pieces of mother-of-pearl – mijingai oki ji and sprinkled them with gold Nashiji flakes. 5.Ducks on a silver background made with tin powder - suzu using Sumie togidashi technique 6."Deer skin" - kanoko - large silver Hiramefun coarse circles on the gold Nashiji flakes. 7.On the secon black fan I added gold Nashiji flakes. Snail dimensions: height 4.6 cm, length 4.2 cm. Red braided cord. A white rose petal with red veins is the stage for the dance of the snail with fans. The petal is carved from a piece of mammoth tusk, red Urushi and silver Hiramefun, 6.3 cm x 5.8 cm. Published in the International Netsuke Society Journal, volume 42, number 2. Available for purchase.
THE WHITE RABBIT
15 images
White Rabbit from Wonderland through the Looking Glass. Reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking-Glass" to children, I got the idea of netsuke, the White Rabbit jumping out of Wonderland through the Looking-Glass, and the hole as a portal between these fascinating countries. there is a two-part netsuke, The White Rabbit and the hole transforming into a chessboard from a snail shell. The White Rabbit is carved from a piece of mammoth tusk, the eyes are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, red lacquer for the pupil and pinkish acrylic glass, the length of the Rabbit is 3.6 cm. Urushi, Takamaki-e fan: Kanshitsu, golden Marufun, maximum shell size 3.8 cm. Netsuke stand - ebony disk with the image of the Moon - silver Hiramefun and green clover leaves - Kanshitsu, diameter - 5.2 cm, thickness 0.5 cm. 2022. Available for purchase.
TWO INTERTWINED DRAGONS-2
17 images
"Two intertwined Dragons" have been carved from mammoth tusk, amber inlaid eyes, brown points were made with burning needle. 12 cm х 9 cm х 4,5 cm. This okimono has a very intricate interweaving of bodies, a lot of scales. 2020. Available for purchase.
WICKER SNAIL
12 images
Walking through the woods, you can find many interesting ideas. Empty snail shells look like abandoned houses. With a little imagination and a lot of work, an abandoned house looks like a captive basket with autumn vine leaves, a curious snail explores its captive house, a red and white rose petal looks like a luxurious pedestal. A riot of autumn colors, leaves and bunch of grapes, Indian summer and pleasant memories ... The wicker pattern on the shell is made with the help of Kanshitsu - small grains of dried yellow colored Urushi, red Urushi, gold Marufun. Braided cord inserted into Himotoshi. The motley white and red petal of the autumn rose with gold Nashiji flakes echoes the riot of the autumn palette. Snail dimensions: 3.9 cm x 4 cm. Petal dimensions: 6 cm x 5 cm. Published in the International Netsuke Society Journal, volume 42, number 2. Available for purchase.
YUKI-ONNA
17 images
Netsuke double-sided Yuki-onna/Hannya mask was carved from a walrus tusk, mask height 8.8 cm, blue and black Urushi, silver, eyes inlaid with mother of pearl and black buffalo horn. Can be used as a neck tie. 2024. Available for purchase. On a cold winter night, when the snow falls in thick flakes, you can see the silhouette of a beautiful woman woven from snowflakes, like a white silent ghost. Her white hair, like snow swirls, covers her shoulders, and her eyes shine with an icy light, like stars in a cloudless night sky. This is Yuki-onna - the snow woman, a creature that simultaneously attracts and frightens. Her cold beauty fascinates people, but beneath the charm of her beauty lies a mortal danger. Those who met her in the forest described her as a beautiful vision, but their admiration quickly turned to horror as Yuki-onna approached. She could stop a heart with her gaze or freeze a soul with her breath. But at the same time, under the impenetrable mask of cold, sensuality and passion lurked, capable of kindling a flame in the hearts of even the most cold-blooded. Yuki-onna wanders among snowy peaks and icy waterfalls, causing awe, love and death, leaving behind a trail of mysteries and legends that continued to live in the hearts of those who dared to meet her on their way. 氷のように冷たい目をした雪女が触れると、冬が目を覚ます Icy eyes, Touch Yuki-onna, Winter awakens. I am very grateful for the help of Guy de la Rupelle in editing the Japanese translation of the haiku.
NIGHT SNAIL
6 images
The Japanese believed that the snail could cause rain. Spring rain is a good harvest! A snail writes poems on its shell and iris petal with raindrops. Buson, Hokku harusame ya On spring rain. 春雨や小磯の小貝ぬるゝほど harusame ya koiso no kogai nururu hodo In the rains of spring Tiny shells, like pebbles, Glisten wet. Netsuke Night Snail: snail shell, Japanese varnishes: black matte Sumiko-Urushi, glossy Kuro-nakanuri-Urushi, black translucent Roiro-Urushi. Snail length 4.6 cm, height 2.9 cm. The black iris petal is carved from ebony, the size of the petal is 5 cm x 4.9 cm. On the petal is a small snail - Takamaki, Japanese Urushi, gold, silver. Japanese characters are written in glossy Kuro-nakanuri-Urushi. Published in the International Netsuke Society Journal, volume 42, number 2. Available for purchase.