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 seven gods of good fortune in their treasure-ship.
The gods Hotei, Daikoku and Ebisu all appear in this netsuke. However the size and bulky shape of this piece suggests that it was used as a decorative okimono rather than a netsuke. Netsuke had to be small and compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. This piece would have been impractical to wear.
The gods Hotei, Daikoku and Ebisu all appear in this netsuke. However the size and bulky shape of this piece suggests that it was used as a decorative okimono rather than a netsuke. Netsuke had to be small and compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. This piece would have been impractical to wear.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and stained ivory |
| Brief description | Netsuke, ivory carved with the Seven Gods of Good Fortune in their treasure-ship, signed Masahiro, Japan, 19th century. |
| Physical description | This carved and stained ivory netsuke is in the form of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (shichifukujin) in their treasure ship (takarabune) with a dragon prow, sailing on water with tortoises and carp, a tama jewel on top of the sail and a flying crane. There are two cord holes on trhe underside. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Translation Masahiro |
| 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 seven gods of good fortune in their treasure-ship. The gods Hotei, Daikoku and Ebisu all appear in this netsuke. However the size and bulky shape of this piece suggests that it was used as a decorative okimono rather than a netsuke. Netsuke had to be small and compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. This piece would have been impractical to wear. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.746-1910 |
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| Record created | April 28, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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