Netsuke
1800-1900 (made)
| 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. In this example, there are a pair of holes (himotoshi) on the bottom of the sandal. 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 netsuke of a gourd.
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. Most netsuke had a pair of cord holes (himotoshi). Alternatively this netsuke has a metal fitting to hold the 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. Most netsuke had a pair of cord holes (himotoshi). Alternatively this netsuke has a metal fitting to hold the cord.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved lacquer with metal fitting |
| Brief description | Netsuke in the form of a double gourd decorated with peonies and foliage, pines, hills and a pavilion, carved red lacquer, Japanese, 18th or 19th century |
| Physical description | Netsuke in the form of a double gourd decorated with peonies and foliage, pines, hills and a pavilion in carved red lacquer |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | Gourd, pavilion, foliage, pine |
| Credit line | Florence Bequest |
| 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. In this example, there are a pair of holes (himotoshi) on the bottom of the sandal. 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 netsuke of a gourd. 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. Most netsuke had a pair of cord holes (himotoshi). Alternatively this netsuke has a metal fitting to hold the cord. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.40-1917 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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