Netsuke Central

[Bugyotsuji]

Dang, the site just lost all the text for these next shots. Posting without, as I am not feeling the energy to do it over again. More fool me for not saving it before trying repeatedly to push the Submit Reply button.

 

And

[Matsunoki]

2 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Dang, the site just lost all the text for these next shots.

That’s a shame Piers because I haven’t got a clue what they are!

Love the teppo. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Colin, I’ll put up a description after recharging the old batteries! 

[Bugyotsuji]

1. Pilgrim’s or priest’s incense container hanging from a small brass ashtray netsuke. This is the smallest example I have; you would put a pinch of fluffy tinder in the bowl when starting a fire with flint and steel.

 

2. Wooden cylinder with compass under glass at one end. That’s the metal part of it!
(Single Himotōshi hole not visible in these shots.) 

It has been said that travellers used these old compasses to avoid certain unlucky directions. You might choose two sides of a triangle for example, instead of a straight route to Kyoto, if that afforded ‘feng shui’ (Ch) 風水 fū sui (J) protection.

 

3. Chased brass netsuke which opens to contain dry tinder. The sagemono strings also acted to keep the top on firmly. Sometimes called Gamaho-ire, because one of the best forms of tinder was the fluff from the 穂 heads of 蒲 bulrushes or reed mace.

蒲の穂入れ

[Matsunoki]

Thanks Piers. Little lasting remnants of times gone by. Quite evocative. We had vinaigrettes and snuff boxes etc!

[Brian]

Love that small teppo shaped one.

[zanilu]

Piers 

 

The copper wire woven basket seems to have the holes between the wires filled with some sort of stuff. Does my eyes do not meselead me?

 

If this is the case it reminds me of Shingen tsuba like this one:

 

Regards 

Luca 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Good point, Luca. What is dust, and what is original material? I’ll have a closer look at it. 

(Liking the strong handwoven feeling of your Shingen tsuba! An early example?)

 

Edited

Yes, after brushing out the dust, it looks like some kind of pitch has been used in the weave.

3.3 cm x 4.3 cm x 1.7 cm

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Having mentioned ivory earlier, here is a little drawer of elephant ivory Netsuke that I decided to keep. Legally there is not much I can do with them, but they are fun to take out just to admire the carving and to remember the stories behind them.

 

Today I was sorting out a larger drawer. Following this post I’ll show some of the ‘other’ ivories.

[Bugyotsuji]

This first lot of nine netsuke are:

1. Top left. Signed grotesque female head in Tagua nut ‘vegetable ivory’.

2. Lower left. Two bone Netsuke designed to look like bamboo.

3. Top right. Baleen netsuke, w/marine ivory. Wrote an article for Euronetsuké magazine outlining some theories about this one.

4. Second down on right. Walrus tusk manjū netsuke, two Edo travellers.

5. Mask and Jurojin in spermwhale tooth.

6. Bottom right. Two narwhal ‘ikkakuju’ or ‘unikooru’ slice ‘senbei’ netsuke. One is cut away, grated for medicinal purposes(?). The other has a silver central fitment with ‘kugi nuki’ kamon on front, and ring attachment at back.

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Stag antler.
Finally, various stag antler netsuke examples. (Closer shots possible. Please feel free to add your own antler pieces.)

 

Top row from left:

1. Pomander containing something fragrant, but also resembles an upright brazier(?)

2. Sho upright flute, alleged origin of the Western pipe organ.

3. Three examples of Obi-Hasami netsuke, to clip behind the obi sash of standard width. The middle one is Bakumatsu Edo work, signed.

The second row are sukashi manjū style netsuke, with an unworked antler base on the right for comparison. No.1 and 3 are carved where the antler bifurcates.

Third row.

Mushrooms, stone pedestal, katchū Haramaki dō cuirass, and daikon root with leaves.

Bottom row.

Silk seal, head, with quality control hole and personalized seal underneath.

Well-aged Shishi with ball. (Stomach?)

Chinese sage with peach.

Ama diving girl with small sickle.

 

 

[Matsunoki]

Again many charming and unusual subjects Piers. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Hoping that anyone new to Netsuke here may get some idea of the variety there really was out there, throughout the Edo period and across all social strata.