Netsuke
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. Above all, they had to have the means for attaching a cord. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori (shape carving), a three-dimensional carving, such as this one in the form of the grass-cutter's boy playing a flute.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Netsuke of a grass-cutter's boy playing a flute, carved ivory, signed Hidemasa, Japan, 19th century. |
| Physical description | This netsuke is in the form of a carved ivory grass-cutter's boy playing a flute; he wears leggings with floral designs and straw sandals, while carrying a basket of cut grass on his back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. Above all, they had to have the means for attaching a cord. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori (shape carving), a three-dimensional carving, such as this one in the form of the grass-cutter's boy playing a flute. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.826-1910 |
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| Record created | April 9, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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