Netsuken Product Sheet

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a netsuke and how is it made?

  This netsuke is carved from ivory and depicts three rats huddled close in an interlinked fashion. It was carved by Nagahisa, whose signature can be found on the base, encircled by the rats’ huddled feet. Here is where you can really remark on and appreciate the intricacies of the netsuke: in the place so few people would actually look.

• What is the condition of the Ivory netsuke?

  The ivory stained and bearing a good colour. it is in very good condition overall with natural veining and wear consistent with age. It was said that ashi-naga legs were around seven meters long, and té-naga arms around 9 meters long. ivory netsuke depicting a deity on an animal.

• How long does it take to carve a netsuke?

  The process of carving a single netsuke could take several weeks, especially if the netsuke has a human visage. Carving was done by hand, by a master carver, and once completed a wooden netsuke would usually be coated in lacquer to ensure it would be preserved and could be worn daily for years to come.

• Why do netsuke have holes?

  They often have a hole passing through them from top to bottom, for the cord of the inro to pass through. While at first, netsuke were simple objects used to hold inro in place, they later became pieces of art in their own right. And so, netsuke as we know them now are intricately carved objects of incredible beauty.

• What is a netsuke in art?

  A netsuke ( 根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

• What are bamboo netsuke made of?

  Bamboo netsuke are either a piece of the stem or the root with carving on it." According to Bernard Rosett: "carvings in the round are usually made from the underground stem of the plant, that small almost solid zone that connects to the creeping rhizome below the ground.

• What is Shunga netsuke?

  Sexual - shunga netsuke may depict a male and female in sexual conjugation or may contain only subtle or symbolic sexual references. Some netsuke represent single, simple, objects, and some depict entire scenes from history, mythology, or literature. Jewel of Wisdom carved with mountain pavilions. Stained ivory

• What is a netsuke horn?

  Ivory, amber buffalo horn. Netsuke (根付) [netsɯke] are miniature sculptures that were invented in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical function (the two Japanese characters ne+tsuke mean "root" and "to attach").