All offered with attractive estimates, these included okimono of Sennin standing on a stylised toad made from a stag antler, 4 1/2in (11.5cm) high, and a study of a seated street vendor with a basket at his side, 2 1/2in (6cm) high. The latter was lacking a foot and both had some minor damage but sold at £1050 and £480 respectively.
A netsuke study of a kneeling man sharpening his sword, a small chest on his left hand side, 2in (5.5cm) high, sold at £520, while another, carved as a helmet maker with his tools and wares around him, 2 1/2in (6.5cm) high, took £740. Both were signed in red lacquer.
The sale’s best-seller was an attractive Edwardian inlaid mahogany cabinet bookcase in Sheraton style with arched, glazed doors above a serpentine base with a single drawer and a pair of doors. It sold at £2600.
However, more of a surprise at £700 was an early 20th century American acoustic guitar by the celebrated American makers C.F. Martin & Co of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. It was offered with its case but a split to the instrument was thought too much of a problem.
A scarce RAF WWII observer’s parachute came complete with harness, attaching rings and its canvas issue bag with Air Ministry stamping, stitch-on ID label and numerous secondary stampings. It made £420.
Fine Meiji from Cheshire estate
A local estate was the source of some fine Meiji ivories sold by Cheshire auctioneers Frank Marshall (15% buyer’s premium) of Knutsford on January 11.
