Netsuke Central

[John C]

This is probably a dumb question, however..... if a Japanese netsuke craftsman were to move to China, or even a Chinese craftsman trained in Japan, and set up shop and still make beautiful pieces, how would these coming out of China be looked upon by the collecting community? I'm just thinking about quality vs country of origin.

 

John C.

[Bugyotsuji]

That would be true today John, but not so much back in the Edo period when things were a little more clear-cut. 

[PietroParis]

The "chick and egg" thing is indeed modern and mass-produced:

 

[Clark]

14 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

Thank you Clark!

I got this NETSUKE as a present from a friend in 1969. We had seen it in a shop window in southern Germany every time we went to town, and as I liked it a lot, she eventually bought it for me.

It may well be Chinese, but at that time and with no expertise......it happens!

It was expensive, by the way!

The value of friendship cannot be measured in money. If this piece brings you beautiful memories, then it is worth it to you. However, I must also kindly remind you that the replicas from Chinese workshops are not worth your subsequent investment. This is something I found at a Chinese second-hand market at random, and it is exactly the same as your Kusari. The price is also very high (relative to Chinese consumers). I guess these are mass-produced for export, please make sure to identify them.

[ROKUJURO]

That's surprizing! How did they manage to take photos of my NETSUKE ?  

[zhangshilong]

On 3/18/2026 at 10:49 PM, John C said:

然而，这可能是一个愚蠢的问题……如果一个日本悬坠工匠移居中国，甚至是一个在日本接受培训的中国工匠，开办店铺并仍然制作出精美的作品，那么收藏界会如何看待这些从中国出来的作品呢？我只是在考虑质量与原产国。

 

约翰·C.

Hello, John. I believe the two should not be confused with each other. The Edo period of Japan marked the golden age of netsuke craftsmanship, while China was in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties during the same era. Back then, China also had ornaments made of bone, wood and other materials, such as pendants for scholars' folding fans, clothing accessories, and handheld curios for appreciation.

 

From my perspective, it is impossible to draw a definite conclusion about which country such craftworks as netsuke originated from. Similar artifacts in different regions developed independently and in parallel. I

I am also a carving enthusiast. I prefer to call my works bone carvings rather than netsuke, for my master is a bone carving artisan. What I am doing now is to refine my carving skills and infuse my creations with modern ideas and insights.

 

This is one of my small pieces. Some people may find it unpleasant or even repulsive. It depicts a modern baby lying on the skull of a primitive human, connected by an umbilical cord. I intend to convey that modern humans share the same bloodline with our primitive ancestors, and that humanity has continued to reproduce and thrive through generations.

 

Admittedly, this work may not appeal to everyone. To my mind, whether it is bone carving or netsuke, the essence lies in the inner meaning and cultural heritage. I have always looked down on those who merely copy works and make counterfeits for profit.

t is just that Japanese netsuke gained widespread popularity and public attention. Influenced by this, many Chinese craftsmen in modern times have begun to create works in the style of Japanese netsuke, and even produce counterfeits for sale.