{"title":"Carvings \u0026 Objects","description":"\u003cp\u003eSingle pieces by living Japanese carvers — netsuke in deer antler, shogi pieces in Mikurajima boxwood — from galleries that have never shipped abroad. Each one is the only one. We confirm it is still available before we take your money, and ship it insured with the gallery's papers.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"netsuke-kanchu-ushibeni-by-sekine-kabu-deer-antler-ebony","title":"Netsuke \"Kanchū Ushibeni\" by Sekine Kabu — Deer Antler \u0026 Ebony","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA contemporary netsuke by Tokyo carver Sekine Kabu in deer antler with ebony, 3.2 cm across. One piece, sold directly from the artist's gallery in Nezu.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe title \u003cem\u003eKanchū Ushibeni\u003c\/em\u003e — \"midwinter ox-red\" — refers to the Edo-period custom of buying red lip rouge on the Day of the Ox in the coldest part of the year, when its color was believed to be at its deepest. Sekine Kabu works the theme in deer antler, whose warm grain and translucency have made it a netsuke material since the 18th century, with an ebony inlay for the note of red-black. The piece is carved fully in the round with functioning \u003cem\u003ehimotoshi\u003c\/em\u003e cord holes and sits in the palm the way a netsuke should. A red cushion hand-sewn by the artist is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArtist: Sekine Kabu (関根蕪), Tokyo · Contemporary, signed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterials: Deer antler, ebony · Size: 1.5 × 3.2 × 1.1 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes artist-made red cushion · Single piece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch: the world of contemporary netsuke\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKyoto's Seishu Netsuke Art Museum on the living tradition Sekine Kabu works in. (A general introduction — not this specific piece.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin-bottom:1.5em;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/k0gNX_2Q-Q0?rel=0\" title=\"Discovering the Contemporary Netsuke — Seishu Netsuke Art Museum\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlease read before ordering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of a kind.\u003c\/strong\u003e We confirm the piece is still available with the gallery within one business day; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterials are deer antler and ebony only — no ivory, whale or marine mammal material. Ships with gallery documentation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Sekine Kabu (関根蕪)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67646484709744,"sku":"ME-NTK-SEKINE-USHIBENI","price":1149.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1042\/2940\/5040\/files\/sekine_1.jpg?v=1791313687"},{"product_id":"sagemono-ningyo-mermaid-by-nagashima-shinya-deer-antler-glass-buffalo-horn","title":"Sagemono \"Ningyo\" (Mermaid) by Nagashima Shinya — Deer Antler, Glass \u0026 Buffalo Horn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA hanging ornament (\u003cem\u003esagemono\u003c\/em\u003e) by Nagashima Shinya — a mermaid in deer antler with glass and water-buffalo horn, an octopus perched on her head. 7.6 cm. One piece, from the artist's gallery in Nezu, Tokyo.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNagashima Shinya belongs to the generation of Japanese carvers who have taken netsuke technique beyond the kimono sash: \u003cem\u003esage\u003c\/em\u003e pieces like this one are made to hang from a cord or bag, and the elongated form gives him room for narrative. The mermaid is worked in deer antler; glass and dark buffalo horn supply the eyes and inlaid accents, and the small octopus settled on her head is the kind of detail his collectors look for — half joke, half folklore. The carving is complete on every side and finished to a soft polish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArtist: Nagashima Shinya (永島信也), Tokyo · Contemporary, signed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterials: Deer antler, glass, water-buffalo horn · Size: 7.6 × 1.8 × 1.1 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSingle piece\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch: Nagashima Shinya's work\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother Nagashima piece, \"Foxfire,\" filmed by Gallery Hanakagesho in Nezu — the gallery this mermaid comes from. For the full story, see the gallery's \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1KrlxHvHOeU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003einterview with the artist\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin-bottom:1.5em;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/AzPtW7JaU64?rel=0\" title=\"Nagashima Shinya “Foxfire” — Gallery Hanakagesho\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlease read before ordering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of a kind.\u003c\/strong\u003e We confirm the piece is still available with the gallery within one business day; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater-buffalo horn is not a CITES-listed material. No ivory, whale or marine mammal material. Ships with gallery documentation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Nagashima Shinya (永島信也)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67646484742512,"sku":"ME-NTK-NAGASHIMA-NINGYO","price":1799.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1042\/2940\/5040\/files\/nagashima_1.jpg?v=1791313701"},{"product_id":"shogi-pieces-by-shuraku-horiume-mikurajima-boxwood-mine-script","title":"Shogi Pieces by Shūraku — Horiume, Mikurajima Boxwood, \"Mine\" Script","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA full set of hand-carved shogi pieces by the Nagasaki maker Shūraku in Mikurajima boxwood, lacquer-filled \u003cem\u003ehoriume\u003c\/em\u003e technique, \"Mine\" calligraphy. One set, new, from a specialist go-and-shogi board dealer in Japan.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSerious shogi pieces are judged on three things: the wood, the carving and the hand. The wood here is \u003cem\u003eMikurajima tsuge\u003c\/em\u003e — boxwood from the island of Mikurajima south of Tokyo, the densest and most prized Japanese boxwood, in a mix of straight (\u003cem\u003emasame\u003c\/em\u003e) and flat (\u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e) grain. The technique is \u003cem\u003ehoriume\u003c\/em\u003e: each character is carved into the face and the cut filled flush with lacquer, so the piece reads as crisp black calligraphy on a perfectly smooth surface — the step between everyday engraved pieces and the raised-lacquer \u003cem\u003emoriage\u003c\/em\u003e sets used at title matches. The script is \u003cem\u003eMine\u003c\/em\u003e, a bold, legible style favored by players. Shūraku's work is known for consistent character placement across the set and a glass-like finish that only improves with handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaker: Shūraku (秀楽), Nagasaki · Technique: \u003cem\u003ehoriume\u003c\/em\u003e (carved and lacquer-filled)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWood: Mikurajima boxwood (御蔵島黄楊), mixed straight and flat grain · Script: Mine (峰)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFull set of 40 pieces plus 2 spare pawns · Flat paulownia storage box (\u003cem\u003ehirabako\u003c\/em\u003e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCondition: New · Single set\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWatch: how master shogi pieces are made\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA shogi-piece maker in Sanjō, Niigata at work, from UX Niigata TV. The video follows a raised-lacquer \u003cem\u003emoriage\u003c\/em\u003e set; this set is \u003cem\u003ehoriume\u003c\/em\u003e, the carve-and-fill stage that \u003cem\u003emoriage\u003c\/em\u003e builds on. (A general craft video — not this maker.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%;margin-bottom:1.5em;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/DRrbR2mAUQw?rel=0\" title=\"How moriage shogi pieces are made — UX Niigata TV\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePlease read before ordering\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOne of a kind.\u003c\/strong\u003e We confirm the set is still available with the dealer within one business day; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoxwood is not a CITES-listed species. Pieces only — board not included.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Shūraku (秀楽)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67646484775280,"sku":"ME-SHG-SHURAKU-MINE","price":1199.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1042\/2940\/5040\/files\/shogi_1.jpg?v=1791313721"}],"url":"https:\/\/meridianeast.co\/collections\/carvings-objects.oembed","provider":"Meridian East","version":"1.0","type":"link"}