19c SHUNGA netsuke LOINCLOTH caught in clam

Description

19th century boxwood netsuke of a man with his fundoshi (loincloth) caught in a huge clam shell on which he is standing. The netsuke is of shunga type with clam in Japanese art considered having an obvious resemblance to female parts, and man’s loincloth being stuck in it, with which the he seems to be unhappy about. Well carved, great distressed face, pleasant patina. Height 1.98 inches.

Reserve: $320.00

Shipping:

Domestic: Flat-rate of $20.00 to anywhere within the contiguous U.S.

International: Foreign shipping rates are determined by destination. International shipping may be subject to VAT.

Combined shipping: Please ask about combined shipping for multiple lots before bidding.

Location: This item ships from Massachusetts

Your purchase is protected:
In the rare event that the item did not conform to the lot description in the sale, Chairish Auctions specialists are here to help. Buyers may return the item for a full refund provided you notify Chairish Auctions within 5 days of receiving the item.

Buyer's Premium

20%

19c SHUNGA netsuke LOINCLOTH caught in clam

Lot 0053

Estimate $400-$500

Feb 3, 2026, 7:26 PM EST

Starting Price

Secure

$160

LiveAuctioneers Purchase Protection

Vetted auction houses

Secure, online bidding

Returns guaranteed for misrepresented listings

Dedicated support when you need it

Asian Antiques: Scrolls, Weaponry and More

Jan 29, 2026 3:00 PM EST

New York, NY, United States

19c Hida okimono BISHAMON with pagoda by netsuke carver RYOSO: Late Meiji (1890s to 1910s) small Japanese wooden okimono for a home altar in a shape of Bishamon - one of the 7 Gods of Good Fortune, that of war and warriors - holding a pagoda on his hand.

19c Hida okimono BISHAMON with pagoda by netsuke carver RYOSO

19c marine OJIME netsuke slide BIRD & CHRYSANTHEMUM: 19th century small marine material ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) carved and perforated in the round with a bird in flight by chrysanthemum flower with leaves.

19c marine OJIME netsuke slide BIRD & CHRYSANTHEMUM

19c OJIME netsuke slide FOSSIL WALRUS: Late 19th century ojime (slide bead for tightening the cord going from netsuke to inro) in seed shape. I believe the material is fossil walrus tusk, very pleasant to handle, in great condition.

19c OJIME netsuke slide FOSSIL WALRUS

Early 19c netsuke WOLF with deer leg: Early 19th century boxwood netsuke depicting a seated wolf with its paw on a severed haunch and leg of a deer. Wonderful mad face with double inlaid eyes, well presented body volume, excellent patina

Early 19c netsuke WOLF with deer leg

Featured

Early 19c TONKOTSU (netsuke box) TIGER Daruma, animals: Early 19th century tonkotsu ( a form of into with one compartment), its sides and top inlaid with various metal parts of sword furniture (menuki, fuchi and kashira) as well as coral and glass. Images

Early 19c TONKOTSU (netsuke box) TIGER Daruma, animals

19c netsuke RESTING OX by MASANAO of Ise: 19th century netsuke carved as a reclining ox (one of the 12 Zodiac animals) its feet bent underneath it and its head turned to the left. Excellent carving, great face with horn inlaid eyes, superb

19c netsuke RESTING OX by MASANAO of Ise

Large 18/19c Japanese sword TSUBA RAIN DRAGON: 18th to early 19th century large size iron Japanese sword tsuba worked in low relief with an ama-ryu (rain dragon) in flight among wispy clouds. Clever and elegant design in Japanese taste, gilding

Large 18/19c Japanese sword TSUBA RAIN DRAGON

18c Japanese sword iron TSUBA 1000 SHRIMP: 18th century Japanese sword iron tsuba with pierced “thousand shrimp” design and brass inlay of twisted rope. Excellent piece with numerous perforations requiring enormous amount of work,

18c Japanese sword iron TSUBA 1000 SHRIMP

18c Japanese sword TSUBA forest items: Late 18th to early century Japanese sword tsuba with relief decoration of all sorts of natural objects, including ginkgo nuts and leaves, pine needles and cones, mushrooms, cherry flowers, maple

18c Japanese sword TSUBA forest items

Late Meiji netsuke RAT in chestnut: Late Meiji wooden netsuke of a rat eating its way through a chestnut. Nicely carved, pleasant patina. Height 1.48 inches. Reserve: $130.00 Shipping:Domestic: Flat-rate of $20.00 to anywhere within

Late Meiji netsuke RAT in chestnut

19c netsuke TSURAYUKI disguised as temple servant: 19th century wooden netsuke of a man under a semi-folded umbrella, with a temple lantern in his hands. The subject is that of Ki no Tsurayuki, who rode on horseback through a sacred area without

19c netsuke TSURAYUKI disguised as temple servant

19c netsuke mask BUAKU by GENRYO: 19th century boxwood netsuke representing a theatrical mask of Buaku type. Wonderful quality detailed carving, lighter wood (probably ichii - Japanese yew wood), excellent staining and patina. The

19c netsuke mask BUAKU by GENRYO

19c netsuke BATO DANCER by Nagamachi SHUZAN: 19th century painted-wood figure of a Bato dancer wearing an elaborate costume and holding a truncheon in his hand. Rare subject, excellent carving, perfectly balanced, wonderful flow to the lines of

19c netsuke BATO DANCER by Nagamachi SHUZAN

19c netsuke TWISTING SHISHI balancing ball: Late 19th century bamboo netsuke carved as shishi performing an anatomically impossible trick of twisting its rear part 180 degrees to balance a huge ball. Very nicely carved, great depiction of its

19c netsuke TWISTING SHISHI balancing ball

1930s Japanese lacquer OBIDOME netsuke FLOWER on multicolored layers: Early Showa (1930s) Japanese lacquer obidome (sash ornament) made out of lacquer slab with multicolored layers as can be seen on the sides, its top with gold lacquer decoration of a meadow flower and

1930s Japanese lacquer OBIDOME netsuke FLOWER on multicolored layers

19c Asakusa School netsuke COIN & ribbon: 19th century staghorn Asakusa School netsuke carved as an old square coin on a coiled ribbon, which was traditionally used to hold coins together. Clever design, netsuke is essentially a wish for

19c Asakusa School netsuke COIN & ribbon

19c netsuke demon ONI MASK: 19th century boxwood netsuke representing a Noh theater mask of an oni (mischievous demon). Excellent quality carving, wonderful face with a hint of malice, beautiful stippling indicating hair of its

19c netsuke demon ONI MASK

19c horn netsuke SNEEZER by UWASA: Unusually high quality 19th century carved horn netsuke of a sitting man about to sneeze. The scene represents a street entertainer, in this case a man who tickles himself with a stick and sneezes

19c horn netsuke SNEEZER by UWASA

18c Japanese sword TSUBA BUKAN ZENSHI with TIGER: Late 18th to early 19th century iron Japanese sword tsuba with multimetal inlays depicting sennin Bukan Zenshi standing under a rock and waving for his faithful tiger to approach, which the beast

18c Japanese sword TSUBA BUKAN ZENSHI with TIGER

19c lacquer netsuke CHINESE BOY with fan: 19th century cinnabar lacquer netsuke of a reclining karako (Chinese boy) leaning on one hand and holding a fan in the other. Beautifully made, wonderful face, excellent depiction of hair tufts on

19c lacquer netsuke CHINESE BOY with fan

Related Searches

Price ResultsAuctions in New York

TOP