Netsuke thumbnail 1
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Japan, Room 45, The Toshiba Gallery

Netsuke

1800-1850 (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 hardwearing. 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 rabbit.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved wood with inlaid eyes
Brief description
Netsuke of a rabbit in carved and stained wood, signed Masakazu, Japan, 1800-1850
Physical description
Netsuke of a rabbit in katabori ('shape carving') form, with its left forepaw raised and its head looking up towards the left, in carved and stained wood with inlaid eyes. The means of attaching the cord is provided by natural openings in the design of the rabbit on the underside.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.9cm
  • Length: 3.5cm (Note: Measurements taken from the register, converted from inches.)
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Signed 'Masakazu' with a kaô (The incised signature is on the underside of the netsuke.)
Translation
Masakazu
Gallery label
Rabbit 1800-50 Signed 'Masakazu' Stained wood with inlaid eyes Salting Bequest Museum no. A.955-1910(October 2016)
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.
Salting collection no. 3191
Subject 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 hardwearing. 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 rabbit.
Collection
Accession number
A.955-1910

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Record createdApril 28, 2009
Record URL
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