Netsuke
later 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 grasses by the light of the moon.
This design is often associated with Japanese lacquerwork.
This design is often associated with Japanese lacquerwork.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory with staining |
| Brief description | Netsuke of the moon with clouds and autumn plants, carved ivory, signed Kou, 19th century, Japan |
| Physical description | This carved and stained ivory netsuke is in the form of grasses by the light of the moon. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| 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. |
| 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 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 grasses by the light of the moon. This design is often associated with Japanese lacquerwork. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.1016-1910 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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