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 a sennin.
Sennin are eccentric demigods that are Chinese in origin and can be distinguished due to their wild and unkempt appearance and fern skirts. This netsuke is particularly fragile due to its long length and thin and delicate arms and legs.
Sennin are eccentric demigods that are Chinese in origin and can be distinguished due to their wild and unkempt appearance and fern skirts. This netsuke is particularly fragile due to its long length and thin and delicate arms and legs.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved wood |
| Brief description | Netsuke, wood carved with a sennin, Japan, 19th century |
| Physical description | This carved wood netsuke is in the form of a sennin beating a drum, the eyes are inlaid with glass in two colours. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Sennin |
| 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. |
| 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 a sennin. Sennin are eccentric demigods that are Chinese in origin and can be distinguished due to their wild and unkempt appearance and fern skirts. This netsuke is particularly fragile due to its long length and thin and delicate arms and legs. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.898-1910 |
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| Record created | April 9, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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