Japanese netsuke, although small, can command the attention of buyers and achieve record-setting prices globally. Netsuke are prized for their exquisite craftsmanship and historical significance with prices able to reach seven figures for the perfect pieces.
We run through the five highest-priced netsuke sold at public auction, from Japanese unicorns to distinctive caricatures we look at what makes each piece extraordinary. If you have a netsuke that you would like valued then please get in touch for a no obligation valuation using the form below, or on our Asian art valuations page.
5. Ivory Netsuke of a Standing Dutchman with Hare
This remarkable ivory netsuke represents a Dutchman carrying a rifle and a freshly hunted hare over his shoulder. When auctioned at Lempertz, Cologne in 2004, it stunned the market by fetching around £105,000 (EUR €154,000) far above expectations and a record-breaking price for its time.
The artist is unknown, but the carving skill is evident: the figure stands unusually tall for a netsuke, with finely detailed European attire (tricorn hat, coat, and boots) and a vividly expressive face. Created during the Edo period when Nagasaki trade made foreigners a popular subject, it offers a humorous Japanese take on a “South Barbarian” (Nanban) visitor. Its ownership history spans over a century in famed collections and it was publicized as early as 1895 by dealer Marcus Huish. Its collector appeal stems from the rarity of European-subject netsuke and the piece’s captivating blend of cultural humour and craftsmanship. Today it remains one of the most famous and expensive netsuke ever sold at auction, treasured as a cultural bridge between Japan and the West.
Asian Art Valuations
For Asian art valuations we can personally recommend the specialists below. Both are leading UK experts in Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian works of art.
Alexander Clement MRICS ASFAV
Asian Art, Watches and General Valuations
Halls Fine Art
Tel: +44 (0)1743 450700
Email: [email protected]
About Alexander
Alexander studied History of Art and Design at Staffordshire University and began his career as curator of the Royal Doulton Museum. He later ran the Ceramics, Glass and Asian Art departments at Phillips (later Bonhams), before becoming Director of the Chester saleroom. Since joining Halls Fine Art in 2015, he has built a highly successful Asian art department, achieving house record prices and handling important collections across the UK.
Bill Forrest
Director | Head of Department, Chinese, Japanese & South East Asian Art
Roseberys
Tel: +44 (0)20 8761 2522
Email: [email protected]
About Bill
Bill graduated in Ancient History from the University of Leeds and is a member of the Oriental Ceramic Society. He joined Roseberys in 2015 and was appointed Head of Department for Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in 2016. He has achieved notable results for important Chinese works, including six-figure hammer prices, and regularly undertakes UK and international valuations of Asian art.
4. Ivory Netsuke of a Shaggy Dog and Pup by Gechū
Ivory netsuke of a mother dog and pup by Gechū sold at Bonhams London, Nov 8, 2016 for £221,000, which at the time was the second-highest price ever for a netsuke.
This charming netsuke is signed by the artist Gechū and captures a mother dog with her pup. It is carved in ivory with painstaking detail while both dogs have inlaid eyes (gilt details originally) that bring them to life. The compact composition (about 6.5 cm tall) balances realism with stylization that epitomizes the Osaka school. The item also had impeccable provenance and was the favourite netsuke of collector Julius Katchen. Its impressive auction price was generated by a combination of the sculpture’s expressive character, pristine condition, and illustrious provenance (tracing back to the famous M.T. Hindson collection of netsuke). Connoisseurs regard the shaggy dog and pup as a masterpiece of Osaka ivory carving, with an aura of tenderness and whimsy that few netsuke can match.
3. Ivory Netsuke of a Shishi Attributed to Tomotada
An ivory netsuke of a shishi (mythical guardian lion) from late 18th-century Kyoto achieved the next record in 2011 at a landmark Bonhams London sale where it realized £265,250 (hammer price with premium).
Though unsigned, it is attributed to the circle of Tomotada who was one of Kyoto’s great carvers known for lively animal studies. The netsuke depicts a muscular shishi with finely carved curly mane and tail in a playful pose gripping a ball. Its ivory surface shows a gentle wear and deep ivory patina, indicating long appreciation as an ojime toggle. This piece came from the celebrated Harriet Szechenyi collection, which focused on animal netsuke of exceptional quality. Collectors were drawn to its combination of dynamic craftsmanship, renowned attribution, and Szechenyi provenance.
2. Wood Netsuke of a Kirin on a Cloud
This wooden netsuke of a kirin (a mythic chimera or “Chinese unicorn”) is an unsigned 18th-century masterwork long known as the “Meinertzhagen Kirin,” which at Bonhams New York in 2022 fetched approximately £365,000 (US$441,375).
It is carved in rich boxwood and portrays the hoofed, dragon-headed kirin mid-roar atop swirling clouds. The carving exhibits dramatic movement and fine detail, all polished to a warm patina from centuries of handling. Belonging to renowned collector Frederick Meinertzhagen in the early 1900s and later to Joseph and Elena Kurstin, its provenance and fame made it highly coveted. The 2022 price surpassed all prior netsuke sales, reflecting the kirin netsuke’s status as a once-in-a-generation piece.
1. Ivory Netsuke of The Monkey King By Matsushita Otoman
A netsuke depicting Songoku (Sun Wukong), the Monkey King of Chinese legend, carved in ivory by Matsushita Otoman sold for around £1,130,000 (EUR €1,300,000) at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in 2023.
The netsuke shows the simian deity leaning on his staff with a fierce, menacing stare and is barely 3 inches tall. Otoman was an Osaka-trained artist who worked near Nagasaki, famed for sculpting foreign themes. The piece is unsigned (as was often the case) yet exquisitely detailed, with bold character and subtle pigment accents. The provenance was also impeccable as it was formerly in the collection of Count Guy de Lasteyrie. It was coveted by collectors for its rarity and superb workmanship and alongside the provenance it was able to shatter the world auction record for the sale of a netsuke.
