Max Rutherston Ltd

Max Rutherston Ltd Dealer in antique Japanese art, specialist in netsuke. https://rutherston.com In due course I became head of that department. was established.

My peripatetic career in art began in the Impressionist and Modern Paintings Department of Sotheby’s London in 1979. Four years later I moved to 19th century European paintings, and throughout my 8 years in pictures at Sotheby’s I also oversaw the paintings sections of the Russian sales. From 1987 to 1990 I dealt in mostly Modern British Paintings from an upstairs gallery in New Bond Street, and i

n 1992-1993 spent a year studying the Japanese language as a prelude to rejoining Sotheby’s London in its Japanese Department. After 10 years there I left to join Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London’s oldest Asian art gallery, to help manage the gallery and run the Japanese side of the business, in addition to writing several luxurious catalogues with Paul Moss. In November 2010 I was joint organiser with Rosemary Bandini of the London Netsuke Symposium, after which we decided to go into business together as Rutherston & Bandini Ltd., a dynamic partnership which rapidly established itself as a major force in the netsuke field. In the summer of 2013, after hosting the International Netsuke Society’s Convention in London, the two of us decided to go our separate ways, and Max Rutherston Ltd. I was a Director of Asian Art in London from its first year, and have been its Chairman since 2010. Read More http://rutherston.com/

Three sweet horses for the year of that noble beast. We have recently posted over 50 new netsuke and inro on the website...
22/05/2026

Three sweet horses for the year of that noble beast. We have recently posted over 50 new netsuke and inro on the website. Selling well, but there’s still plenty worth looking at. As they say in French: “vaut le détour”.

As Easter approaches, it’s time to pull some bunnies out of the hat
20/02/2026

As Easter approaches, it’s time to pull some bunnies out of the hat

Wood netsuke of a “hiryu” (flying dragon). This is close in its overall design to the one illustrated in the Sōken Kishō...
17/11/2025

Wood netsuke of a “hiryu” (flying dragon). This is close in its overall design to the one illustrated in the Sōken Kishō of 1781, and we attribute it to Sanko, who is recorded in the same publication as resident in Osaka. See the next illustration.

Painting on silk by Shibata Zeshin, Shōki and Oni. 1881-82. Mounted as a hanging scroll. Sight size: 39 x 49cm
26/09/2025

Painting on silk by Shibata Zeshin, Shōki and Oni. 1881-82. Mounted as a hanging scroll. Sight size: 39 x 49cm

Illustration from the Sōken Kishō relating to the next post
01/09/2025

Illustration from the Sōken Kishō relating to the next post

Wood netsuke of a “hiryu” (flying dragon). This is close in its overall design to the one illustrated in the Sōken Kishō...
01/09/2025

Wood netsuke of a “hiryu” (flying dragon). This is close in its overall design to the one illustrated in the Sōken Kishō of 1781, and we attribute it to Sanko, who is recorded in the same publication as resident in Osaka. See the preceding illustration.

Tametaka. The pictures say it all
11/08/2025

Tametaka. The pictures say it all

A very self satisfied toad by netsuke carver Komin. He rarely fails to raise a smile.
05/07/2025

A very self satisfied toad by netsuke carver Komin. He rarely fails to raise a smile.

Kokei. Wood netsuke of a wolf & human skull. Eyes double inlaid in contrasting buffalo horn. Circa 1830
28/06/2025

Kokei. Wood netsuke of a wolf & human skull. Eyes double inlaid in contrasting buffalo horn. Circa 1830

Brush case by Hasegawa Ikko, a favourite artist. One of 2 such sold recently. For a dealer it is always a huge pleasure ...
16/06/2025

Brush case by Hasegawa Ikko, a favourite artist. One of 2 such sold recently. For a dealer it is always a huge pleasure when one gets two bites of the same cherry

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