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 hard-wearing. 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 rat on a piece of salmon.
From the 18th century onwards, netsuke were increasingly signed with the carver’s name. Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747) was an individualist of many talents and skills, who specialised in ceramics, painting and lacquering. This netsuke is signed with ‘Kan’, one of Haritsu’s seals. Haritsu was well known for using lacquer to simulate other materials, and there are many netsuke by him in the form of imitation sticks of ink. There are also a number of netsuke with the seal of Haritsu that depict a whole or part of a fish, such as this one. Haritsu was probably one of the earliest carvers known to have signed netsuke. This example, however, is one of many 19th-century copies.
From the 18th century onwards, netsuke were increasingly signed with the carver’s name. Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747) was an individualist of many talents and skills, who specialised in ceramics, painting and lacquering. This netsuke is signed with ‘Kan’, one of Haritsu’s seals. Haritsu was well known for using lacquer to simulate other materials, and there are many netsuke by him in the form of imitation sticks of ink. There are also a number of netsuke with the seal of Haritsu that depict a whole or part of a fish, such as this one. Haritsu was probably one of the earliest carvers known to have signed netsuke. This example, however, is one of many 19th-century copies.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Lacquered wood, with mother-of-pearl |
Brief description | Netsuke of a rat on a piece of salmon, lacquered wood with mother-of-pearl shell, signed with the 'Kan' seal of Ogawa Haritsu, 19th century |
Dimensions |
|
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 hard-wearing. 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 rat on a piece of salmon. From the 18th century onwards, netsuke were increasingly signed with the carver’s name. Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747) was an individualist of many talents and skills, who specialised in ceramics, painting and lacquering. This netsuke is signed with ‘Kan’, one of Haritsu’s seals. Haritsu was well known for using lacquer to simulate other materials, and there are many netsuke by him in the form of imitation sticks of ink. There are also a number of netsuke with the seal of Haritsu that depict a whole or part of a fish, such as this one. Haritsu was probably one of the earliest carvers known to have signed netsuke. This example, however, is one of many 19th-century copies. |
Collection | |
Accession number | W.442A-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | January 8, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest