NETSUKE
As a little girl I loved collecting precious miniatures to display in my printers tray. I later discovered Netsuke and they have fascinated me ever since. The article below is written by Helga L. Zipser who has been in the antique business for 30 years. She owns La Petite Galerie, Inc in Tampa, Florida and she specilaizes in European porcelain, furniture, paintings, silver and glass. Her writing descibes and details what Netsukes are and their history.
Netsuke is a uniquely Japanese art form. These superb little
objects of wood, ivory and ceramics, as well as dozens of other materials, tell
the story of Japan from earliest times. Here we find the peasant, the fisherman,
the beggar rubbing shoulders with the scholar, the samurai, the warrior, as well
as an enchanting collection of animals, fish, insects and benign and ferocious
gods. Also represented are objects of daily living, eggplants, tea bowls,
flowers. The mythology as well as the various religions of Japan from Buddhism
to Shintoism are represented in netsuke form.
Considering the great interest of netsuke in the United
States and Europe, very little is actually known of the beginning of these
miniature carvings. It is certain that netsuke (literal translation: to attach
the root) came into existence as early as the 15th - 16th century. As the
Japanese had no pockets intheir kimonos, they had to find a method to carry
small belongings, and a convenient way was a leather pouch attached to long
double strings and pulled through the obi (a long sash or belt which was worn
around the kimono). The netsuke, which always has openings through which the
string passes, acted as a toggle, holding the pouch in place. Early netsuke were
purely utilitarian, being fashioned of small stones, pieces of bamboo and other
woods, shells and gourds. The pouch was mainly used for tobacco, whereas another
implement, a small box of either three or five compartments, called an inro, was
used for medicines. Sometimes these two items were carried together and
suspended from the same netsuke. About 100 years later the Japanese used the
ojime bead which acted much like our watch chain slide and kept the inro from
opening or turning.
A typical katabori netsuke depicting a
cockerel in wood. Unsigned, 19th century. 4.2 cm.
There are several types of netsuke of which the katabori, a
completely carved three dimensional work of art, is the most sought after by
collectors. A kagamibuta is a bowl shaped netsuke with a metal lid, sometimes
decorated, sometimes plain. This was most often used with the tobacco pouch as
an ash container. Manju netsuke are round and flat and resemble a button. In
Japan a manju is a flat, round rice cake. They can be solid ivory or wood, or
beautifully carved and reticulated. This latter type is called a ryusa netsuke.
Sashi netsuke are elongated Katabori pieces.
Netsuke can be carved of different materials; ivory and wood
being the most popular. They can also be fashioned from horn, tortoise shell,
metal or ceramics. They are classified by collectors according to age, subject
matter, origin, style, carver or school. Unfortunately, we don't have the space
to go into the many different subjects and designs. Suffice to say that these
dear little figures tell us a story. Study the faces of the people, animals,
gods and devils and you will see a full range of human emotion; joy, sadness,
distress, frustration, anger and love. Inspiration for early netsuke came from
the Chinese. Compare the Chinese foo dog to the Japanese shishi and you will at
once see the similarity. As netsuke art became more sophisticated the carvers
reached back into their rich history, religion and fables as well as every day
life, for inspiration. We now find the kabuki entertainer, the noh mask, the
sumo wrestler, the kappa (water imp) and Raijin, the god of thunder. Although
women are in the minority when it comes to netsuke art, we still find them
represented. The pearl diver comes to mind, as well as the mermaid, a mother and
her baby, a beggar woman and of course, Okame (goddess of mirth) who is always
represented with her serene, happy face.
There were thousands of netsuke carvers and to identify them
takes special skill and patience since some of them have identical names. The
history of netsuke is usually divided into three periods: the early, middle and
late periods.
The early period
(17th through early 19th century)
During this time the subject matter came mainly from the
Chinese, and netsuke portraying Chinese legend, history and customs were greatly
admired by the Japanese. The earliest of the carvers never signed their pieces.
Some of the outstanding carvers of the latter part of this period were Masanao,
Tomatada and Okatomo (all from the Kyoto area).
An ivory netsuke of a rain dragon. 19th
century - unsigned.
The middle period
(most of the
19th century)
Netsuke carving came into its own during this
time. Many of the artists now had influential patrons. They trained and schooled
other carvers. During the middle period, the netsuke carver perfected his art,
concentrating on Japanese themes, striving for excellence of design and
execution and using materials of tremendous variety. Some carvers of this period
were Mitsuhiro, Masakazu, Kokusai and Kaigyokusai.
A ceramic netsuke of a badger holding a saki
container. Signed Ogata Kazuhei, late 19th - early 20th century.
The late period
(late 19th and early 20th century)
During the latter part of the 19th century Western influence
and style were introduced to Japan after two centuries of isolation. European
merchants clamored for Japanese wares, good, bad and indifferent. The excellence
of netsuke carving diminished, but the little carved objects found great favor
with the foreigners who took them back to the West. With the advent of Western
style clothes in Japan, the netsuke lost its practical purpose as a toggle and
became strictly an art form. Among outstanding carvers of this period were
Tokoku and Sosui.
Netsuke are popular collector's items today, treasured both
by the Japanese and Westerners. A really good netsuke seldom shows up at a flea
market or general antiques shop. People interested in learning about netsuke
would do well to seek the advice of a knowledgeable dealer or collector. Most of
the netsuke being sold are of poor quality, flat and lifeless. Although some are
carved in Japan, most originate in Hong Kong and some are not even ivory.
A seated rat in wood by Masanao of Kyoto.
18th century.
There are some fine books written on
netsuke collecting, both in Japan and in the West. Here are a few titles of
books you might want to locate: "Netsuke, Familiar and Unfamiliar", by Raymond
Bushell, "The Netsuke Handbook by Ueda Reikichi", by Raymond Bushell and "An
Introduction of Netsuke", by Joe Earle. It is often worth trying the public
library or a good book dealer for more information.
Last, but not least, we should mention the contemporary
netsuke. Although new, some of these are extremely well carved and beautiful.
These netsuke are strictly works of art and, as such, command high prices,
sometimes costing more than a fine antique.
Mermaid with coral ball. Ivory - Sumi, circa
1985.
A seated Daruma emerging from a nine year
meditation, carved in wood with inlays. Koju (school of Tokoku), late 19th
century.
Prices of fine netsuke range from several hundred
to thousands of dollars. Before investing, study, read, look, feel. Learn about
damage and repairs. Buy one good netsuke rather than five average ones.
Signatures are not as important as good carving and charming subject matter.
Hold a netsuke in your hand and feel the warmth of the wood admire the glow of
the ivory. Explore the world of netsuke. You will most certainly fall in love
and it is a lifetime love affair.
