Netsuke thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

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 of attaching the cord. Although netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated is the katabori (shape carving). This is a three-dimensional carving, such as this example.
In 1543 the Portuguese arrived in Japan. They were followed by the Spanish, Dutch and English. The Japanese became fascinated by Europeans. Their physical appearance, their clothes, their customs, the things they used and the way they lived all appealed to the Japanese people.
In the 18th century, Japanese craftsmen made netsuke in the form of standing European figures. Many of them were shown holding an animal, like this Dutchman with a dog. The Dutchman's eyes and nose are exaggerated. These netsuke were made at a time when Japan was virtually closed to Europeans. The netsuke carvers seem to have based their European faces on a type of doll known as Saga ningyo (Saga doll). The other source was prints and paintings of foreigners produced in Nagasaki.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory
Brief description
Netsuke, ivory, Dutchman holding a dog, 18th century
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.0cm
Style
Credit line
Schwaiger Bequest
Subjects 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 of attaching the cord. Although netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated is the katabori (shape carving). This is a three-dimensional carving, such as this example.
In 1543 the Portuguese arrived in Japan. They were followed by the Spanish, Dutch and English. The Japanese became fascinated by Europeans. Their physical appearance, their clothes, their customs, the things they used and the way they lived all appealed to the Japanese people.
In the 18th century, Japanese craftsmen made netsuke in the form of standing European figures. Many of them were shown holding an animal, like this Dutchman with a dog. The Dutchman's eyes and nose are exaggerated. These netsuke were made at a time when Japan was virtually closed to Europeans. The netsuke carvers seem to have based their European faces on a type of doll known as Saga ningyo (Saga doll). The other source was prints and paintings of foreigners produced in Nagasaki.
Collection
Accession number
FE.284-1995

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Record createdMarch 11, 2003
Record URL
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