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The World of Netsuke: Miniature Sculpture of Japan

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Ranked #1262 in Arts , #27151 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

What is netsuke?

 

Netsuke is a form of miniature sculpture that developed in Japan over a period of more than 300 years.

Netsuke served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Women would tuck small personal items into their sleeves, but men suspended their tobacco pouches, pipes, purses, or writing implements on a silk cord from their obi (kimono sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. To stop the cord from slipping through the obi, a small toggle was attached. The toggle is called a netsuke. (The most popular pronunciation is "net-ski", while the actual Japanese is closer to "netskeh"). A sliding bead (ojime) was strung on the cord between the netsuke and the sagemono to tighten or loosen the opening of the sagemono.

The entire ensemble was then worn, at the waist, and functioned as a sort of removable hip pocket. All three objects (the netsuke, the ojime and the different types of sagemono) were often beautifully decorated with elaborate carving, lacquer work, or inlays of rare and exotic materials, including: wood, ivory, precious metals, shell, coral, and semi-precious stones. All three items developed into highly coveted and collectible art forms.

-information from the International Netsuke Society



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After you've explored this lens, please visit World of Netsuke for more information and listings.

 

Netsuke Gallery 

Arm of a Demon (from the Rashomon legend) by unforth

Arm of a Demon (from...

Mt. Fuji, Hawk and Aubergine by unforth

Mt. Fuji, Hawk and A...

Kirin (Mythological Creature) by unforth

Kirin (Mythological...

Inro and Netsuke by unforth

Inro and Netsuke

Skull and Lizard Netsuke by unforth

Skull and Lizard Net...

Yoshinaga - Shoki The Demon Queller - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Yoshinaga - Shoki Th...

Oni with Spiked Club - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Oni with Spiked Club...

Ashinaga and Tenaga - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Ashinaga and Tenaga...

Nagai Rantei (school of) - Shoki and Demon - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Nagai Rantei (school...

Shoki The Demon Queller - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Shoki The Demon Quel...

Soko (Morita Kisaburo) - Temple Guardian Weaving Straw Sandal - netsuke - LACMA - reverse by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Soko (Morita Kisabur...

Daoist Immortal with Sacred Jewel - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Daoist Immortal with...

Shuosai Hidemasa II - Painted Scroll Coming to Life Shoki Attacking Demon - netsuke - LACMA by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Shuosai Hidemasa II...

Shuosai Hidemasa II - Painted Scroll Coming to Life Shoki Attacking Demon - netsuke - LACMA - reverse by Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer

Shuosai Hidemasa II...

Forms of netsuke 

kataborinetsuke or "sculpture netsuke" - this is the most familiar style, a compact three-dimensional figure carved in the round, usually around one to three inches high


  • anaborinetsuke or "hollowed netsuke" - subset of katabori which is hollowed-out and carved within; the most common are scenes in clams
  • sashinetsuke - this is an elongated form of katabori, literally "stab" netsuke, similar in length to the sticks and gourds used as improvised netsuke before carved pieces were produced, about six inches long
  • obi-hasami - another elongated netsuke with curved top and bottom. It sits behind the obi with the curved ends visible above and below the obi.


  • mennetsuke or "mask netsuke" - the largest category after katabori, these were often imitations of full size noh masks, and share characteristics in common with both katabori and manju/kagamibuta

    manjunetsuke or "manju netsuke"- a thick, flat, round type of netsuke, with carving usually done in relief, sometimes made of two ivory halves. Shaped like a manju.


    ryusanetsuke - shaped like a manju, but carved like lace, so that light shines completely through

    kagamibutanetsuke or "mirror lid netsuke" - shaped like a manju, but with a metal disc serving as lid to a shallow bowl, usually of ivory. The metal is often highly decorated with a wide variety of metallurgical techniques.


    karakurinetsuke or "trick/mechanism netsuke" - any netsuke that does something, ones with moving parts or hidden surprises

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    International Netsuke Society 

    devoted to the study and appreciation of netsuke

    The International Netsuke Society (formerly known as the Netsuke Kenkyukai Society) is devoted to the study and collection of netsuke and related sagemono art forms.
    Membership in the society, founded in 1975, includes a subscription to its quarterly, 60-page, color, illustrated magazine, the International Netsuke Society Journal. Among the other Society activities are a biennial convention held in the United States and local chapter meetings in the United States, Japan and Europe. There are over 625 society members living in 31 different countries.

    Materials used to create netsuke 

    A variety of materials have been used to create netsuke. These include:

  • wood - the most common. Boxwood was especially popular.
  • ivory - a close second. Of course, ivory is no longer used anymore.
  • narwhal - a type of whale. The tusk and upper jawbone were used for carving.
  • horn
  • metal - mainly copper alloys
  • lacquer
  • bamboo - different parts of the bamboo plant were used: the root (chikkon), the stem, and woven split bamboo
  • natural and carved gourds
  • shell
  • rattan

  • Recommended netsuke books 

    These are some of the books a netsuke collector would want to read. To see even more, click here.

    world-of-netsuke.com 

    learn more about netsuke, inro, ojime, and sagemono



    The World of Netsuke is dedicated to netsuke and all things related. You can see antique, vintage, and modern pieces (some are very affordable) and learn more about this delightful art form.

    If you are looking for specific information, you can go directly to:

    What Is Netsuke?
    Netsuke Resources
    Netsuke Bibliography
    Netsuke Books for Sale
    Netsuke Slide Show - Los Angeles County Museum of Art

    What is netsuke? 

    Netsuke Part one - What are this little scalpture?

    powered by YouTube

    More netsuke resources 

    Koryuen: Netsuke
    Information about exhibitions, events, and publications, in English and Japanese
    Netsuke
    A very informative and interesting netsuke site created by Ko Baas, a netsuke enthusiast from the Netherlands.
    Netsuke Message Board
    Netsuke Message Board, a forum for netsuke collectors
    Asian Art Newspaper
    Asian Art is published 10 times a year. It covers the entire Asian art world from East Asia and Southeast Asia arts to Himalayan and South Asian arts.
    AntiquesWeb
    Antiques and collectibles classifieds and dealer directory; free listings
    Smithsonian Netsuke Collection
    an eGallery featuring netuske at the Freer Gallery of Art/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution
    The Carving Path
    The Carving Path Forum welcomes carvers from many disciplines, whose work involves small scale carving. The goal of the forum is to provide a friendly, informative and accessible place for communication and learning. If you create and/or collect netsuke, I think you'll find it very interesting.
    Contemporary Netsuke Exhibit
    Online exhibit of contemporary netsuke at the Museum of Arts and Design. Be sure to view the History of Netsuke and click on the link for the PDF Teachers' Resource Packet as well.
    World Collectors Net
    Netsuke information and discussions at worldcollectorsnet.com

    Some netsuke auctions now on eBay 

    eBay is a good place to get started because you can find everything from antique to modern netsuke and a wide range of prices. In addition to the auctions shown below, you can find more here.

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    eBay

    An Antique Ivory Japanese Netsuke  

    Antique Ivory Japanese Netsuke - Edo/Meiji Period Zouge

    powered by YouTube

    Sterling Sculptures 

    Tom Sterling, sculptor and netsuke resource

    Artist Tom Sterling is a sculptor who has created fantastic netsuke. Although he no longer makes them (but check out his incredible knives and baskets), his website is a good netsuke resource. Anyone who is interested in netsuke should take advantage of his generosity to download the pdf book Carving Netsuke: The Miniature Sculpture of Japan, Ancient Traditions, Modern Methods. Please note that this is an 18MB file. You'll find the link to the download here.

    You can view Sterling's netsuke sculptures, see a Netsuke in progress tutorial, and learn more about netuske at his site as well.

    Inro 

    This exploded view of an inro shows the names of the major features, according to Raymond Bushell in The Inro Handbook

    An inro is a case for holding small items and is one type of sagemono (see "What Is Netsuke?" above).


    Auction catalogs featuring netsuke and/or inro 

    Auction catalogs are printed in limited numbers and become collectibles virtually right after the auction. These catalogs include netsuke, inro, or related items. If you would like to see a bigger selection, click here.

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    eBay

    Japanese Art and Culture 

    If you are interested in learning more about Japanese art and culture, these websites will be of interest. I'll be adding more, so check back.
    Kateigaho International Edition - Japanese culture, arts, lifestyle magazine
    Kateigaho International Edition is a magazine featuring Japanese culture, arts, and lifestyle.
    Japanese Culture (English)
    A guide to the culture of Japan.
    The Art of Japan
    The Art of Japan explores in detail some of the many aspects of Japanese art, covering diverse topics ranging from the most traditional styles of painting to oddities of architecture.

    The site has five distinct sections based on types of Japanese art: origami, architecture, gardens, paintings, and sculpture. Included with each section are multimedia features including photo galleries, puzzles, and quizzes. Browse through this site and explore the world of Japanese art. Don't miss the section about netsuke.
    J.E. Berger Foundation
    The Berger Foundation has established a wonderful resource for those interested in the arts. After you reach the page linked to above, you can click on Asia and then Japan to see all of the photographs related to Japanese art. The collection covers all parts of the world, as you'll see from the other links available.

    News about Japanese antiques 

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    more about netsuke on YouTube 


    Japanese Cowry Sea Shell Netsuke & Lidded Wooden Case

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    Thank you for visiting! 

    Silver_Lotus

    Thank you for visiting and for your comments.

    Posted September 14, 2008

    Rokusan

    This is really very nice. Netsuke are one of those pieces of Japanese culture that highlights their ability to turn a mundane function into a work of art. 5*

    Posted September 14, 2008

    tdove

    Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!

    Posted August 26, 2008

    Silver_Lotus

    I appreciate your visits and comments - thank you. Click on any photo in the Netsuke Gallery above and you'll be taken to the full-size photo in Flickr.

    Posted August 19, 2008

    spirituality

    These are cute. I'd love to see larger pictures of them :)

    Posted August 19, 2008

    MICHAEL BERNSTEIN

    EXCELLENT SUMMERIZATION OF A GREAT ART FORM.

    Posted August 18, 2008

    MICHAEL BERNSTEIN

    EXCELLENT SUMMERIZATION OF A GREAT ART FORM.

    Posted August 18, 2008

    Silver_Lotus

    Many thanks. People who start collecting netsuke tend to become addicted!

    Posted August 10, 2008

    RinchenChodron

    Great lens ***** - I love the artwork and collection possibilities of netsukes!

    Posted August 10, 2008

    Silver_Lotus

    I know that a number of modern netsuke creators outside of Japan use epoxy, but I'm not sure if carvers in Japan are using it. Good question, and thanks for visiting.

    Posted July 24, 2008

     
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