Featured Netsuke ring

I have never seen one of these. Set in sterling, I will post pictures then ask questions.






1. Chinese or Japanese? From research, I am thinking Chinese.
2. What Chinese or Japanes god is depicted?
3. What is the age of the carving?
4. Have you ever seen one of these set into a ring? I couldn't find anything like this researching.
I showed a dealer friend, he said the netsuke was older (I am not getting that feeling, but definitely pre-ban ivory.) He said he would sell it for $375 (he really wanted it.) Thanks.

 

Netsuke or okimono style jewellery was popular in the late 70s-early 80s. Many of the carvings were contemporary.

He is carrying the 'hossu', the flywhisk of Zen Buddhist priests. There is an obscure Japanese God called Hosuseri, I wonder if it is him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hossu
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosuseri#Name_meaning

I'm sorry to say I disagree. It looks like a post-CITES carving to me. The carving is charming, but it doesn't have the style and detail of period netsukes or okimonos. The silk cords and sleeves are crudely carved, as is the hossu. And the proportions, with the big head, are seen a lot on post-CITES carvings.

The subject is Japanese, but he is probably Chinese made.

I would sell it to him.

 

Thank you, I didn't think it was very old, but yet I figured pre-ban. I don't like correcting dealers. What is post-CITES?

Okay got it.
When did the ban on Ivory start?

1989

African elephants declined in massive numbers in the 1970s and 1980s because of poaching for the illegal ivory trade. So the international trade was banned by CITES in 1989.

 

I guess that is what post-CITES means in the US. In Europe it means post-1947, so that is the date I went by.

My guess is the carving was made in the early 1980s. By US reasoning that could be pre-CITES?
Waiting for US members to chime in

 

I remember ivory being sold in 1988 in San Francisco. I believe our ban started in 1989.

 

It was legal to sell older pieces after that date, but nothing newly manufactured. eBay allowed ivory sales well into the 2000s. I sold a Ming's-grade orchid brooch right before the door slammed shut, to a happy camper buyer. I think some older pieces can still be sold in some states, but here in Connecticut you can't even sell an antique tea set with ivory spacers.

 

I never sold any...it is often in thrifts, yard sales, rarely flea markets here. People sell out-of-state, that I know. I know dealers eager to buy it or trade for it-they do deal among themselves off the grid, so to speak.

 

The older ones kill no elephants. Pieces turn up unheralded, and unofficially they can be sold as long as no one knows what it is. A lot of dealers here won't touch it any more. The same is try for tortoiseshell.

 

you think the poachers know that....

 

USA Federal guidelines say no export/import* and must be 100+ years old to sell.** You can read alllll about it here; the Quick Glance Guide is a good overview.

* Export requires paperwork showing item is 100+ years old and I've yet been able to find what CITES or the USA considers acceptable proof/paperwork. A bill of sale from 1880, sure. But an appraisal? From what level/cert of appraiser? No idea. There are other exceptions for import as well, like an inheritance or household move, etc. You also have to bring it in through a port that handles Antiques, etc. etc.

** Again, very technically a seller should have (undefined!) "paperwork" to show the item is an antique and include that in the sale. Can I say I'm an antiques dealer and I certify it is antique? Who knows! In practice, there's no enforcement of individual sellers that I can find...

I guess individual states may have additional laws? Mine doesn't. Can't sell a human skeleton anymore though so there's that.

I can point you to plenty of ivory on the bay right now listed as "faux" or material "unknown" lol.

January 18, 1990

You can still legally import "hunting trophies" so uhhh... Two per year, from designated countries. That's why you still see rich folk taking selfies over animals.

 

There was so much ivory jewelry being made in the 60s...unfortunately. And the 70s and 80s. You can often tell by the styles when the jewelry was made. I'm glad there is a ban. I read online that you can donate it to, I believe, the US Fish and Wildlife department. I remember a dealer recently telling me that it was legal to sell somehow in the Carolinas, less restrictions. We seem to be killing off so many species, and to think for just ornamentation or trophy hunting.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/rpt/2015-R-0237.htm

 

I'm forever finding small bits made into "genuine ivory jewelry" but the metal is costume. It's really sad that an animal's life wasn't even worth real gold. The rule with selling it on eBay is that everyone else's "faux" will skate, but it'll get taken down if you try it yourself.

BTW - I'm in Connecticut, and yes they've been known to raid antique stores. I found a piece on Friday, but left it behind.

 

I've gotten one or two ivory necklaces with netsuke charms from the 1980s, resold them years ago (on Ebay). Basically impossible to sell online now. I'm glad there is a ban, but it's tricky.

Rules for ivory sale in the U.S. are complex and quite restrictive as mentioned.

I occasionally see ivory pieces (even bragging they are ivory on the tag) at in person estate sales and antique shows, I'm not even sure what the rules are in my state.

If that dealer was interested, maybe you can work out a trade or something.

 

I've stopped buying it even in person; the person who used to buy ivory jewelry from my for quiet resale got Visited by the State of CT. He doesn't sell it any more.

 

I consider it "lighting money on fire" in that it's now an object that can only be given away and that cash never comes back to you.

I think the antique sculptures made with it can be beautiful pieces of art. Obviously I'm a big fan of the cameos, which you can see in a lot of museums and one of @Bronwen's Pinterest boards.

 

That's about all you can do with it now - donate it, or give it away.

 

Yep. Definitely my intention. I adore the couple antique pieces I have and they'll go to a niece (if interested) or a museum (in a collection) most likely. The people who spend thousands on the ivory and tortoise stuff on 1stDibs boggle my mind though...I guess I'm just in the wrong tax bracket.

 

I rescue tortoise once in a while, but never anything big. Ivory too.

 

being a native art dealer I've been surrounded by animal parts for 35 years , and seal skin and furs since I was a kid .

 

Seal fur for no reason makes me sad. I hope those pieces at least went to good homes.