Netsuke
18th 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 oni (demon) on a rock.
This is probably a parody on the iconography of the Buddha's disciple Handaka Sonja, who is frequently shown seated similarly on a rock. The highly exaggerate muscularity of the figure is reminiscent of the hyperrealistic manner of the wood carvers of the Kamakura period (1185-1392).
This is probably a parody on the iconography of the Buddha's disciple Handaka Sonja, who is frequently shown seated similarly on a rock. The highly exaggerate muscularity of the figure is reminiscent of the hyperrealistic manner of the wood carvers of the Kamakura period (1185-1392).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory |
| Brief description | Netsuke, in the form of an oni (demon) on a rock, carved ivory, Japanese, 18th century. |
| Physical description | This carved and stained ivory netsuke is in the form of a demon (oni) seated with one leg half bent and the other half bent but flat on a rock with a flat top and bottom. The demon, who reveals a body with exaggerated muscle and a menacing grimace, has a pair of short horns on his head and claw-like fingers and toes, while he wears a Buddhist rosary around his neck and ankles. This is probably a parody on the iconography of the Buddha's disciple Handaka Sonja, who is frequently shown seated similarly on a rock. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Mr. Edmond Dresden, accessioned in 1904. 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 oni (demon) on a rock. This is probably a parody on the iconography of the Buddha's disciple Handaka Sonja, who is frequently shown seated similarly on a rock. The highly exaggerate muscularity of the figure is reminiscent of the hyperrealistic manner of the wood carvers of the Kamakura period (1185-1392). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 459-1904 |
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| Record created | April 28, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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