What is a netsuke?
A netsuke is a small sculpture which developed as an art form in
Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. Netsuke
originally served both functional and aesthetic purposes, but in
modern times they have become extremely collectable. There is
an extensive collection of netsuke at the National Museum of
Scotland and many are on display in Looking East, The Lady Ivy
Wu gallery, on Level 5.
A selection of netsukes at the National Museum of Scotland
Ashinaga and Tenaga
Tea-kettle badger
Two lion-dogs, one emerging from an egg
Fox dressed as a woman
An octopus seizing a child
Three demons cowering
A tiger with a moveable head
A wild dog with skull
Monkey with basket of fruit
Kirin, a mythical beast
Over 100 netsuke are
on display in Looking East, The Lady Ivy Wu Gallery, Level 5,
National Museum of Scotland.
What function did netsuke have and how were they worn?
The kimono, the traditional Japanese form of 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 cord from their sash.
These hanging objects were called sagemono. To stop the cord
from slipping through the sash, a small toggle was attached
called a netsuke (pronounced net-skey).
A sliding bead (ojime) was strung on the cord between the
netsuke and the sagemono to tighten or loosen the arrangement. The
entire ensemble was worn at the waist and functioned as
a removable hip pocket or wallet.
What were they made of?
All three objects - sagemono, netsuke and ojime - were
beautifully decorated with elaborate carving, coats of lacquer, or
inlays of various materials such as ivory, wood, precious metals,
shell, coral and semi-precious stones. A new group of talented
artists emerged during this period to create these fine
objects.
What makes netsuke such an exciting art form?
Netsuke allowed the artist to portray an astonishing array of
subject matter, including legends, folklore, history, animals,
flowers, insects, mythological creatures and more. Styles
range from the intensely realistic to the abstract and surreal.
What to consider when making a netsuke?
Because it was a functional object, the creation of a netsuke
posed a tremendous challenge to the artist. Designs had to be
compact, with no sharp or protruding edges, which would either snag
a silk kimono or break off in use. There had to be openings
(himotoshi) for the cord to pass through, carefully placed so that
the netsuke would hang attractively when worn. The netsuke
also had to balance when displayed as a piece of sculpture. They
needed to feel good when handled, be carefully finished and be
aesthetically pleasing from every angle, including upside-down!