Description
19th Century Japanese Carved boxwood Baku netsuke. Signed as shown, 2 1/8" tall<br>x 1 1/8" wide with no damage and minimal wear<br><br><br>A netsuke (根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century<br>Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inrō box,<br>netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.<br><br>Traditionally, Japanese clothing – first the kosode and its later evolution, the<br>kimono – did not have pockets. Though the sleeves of the kimono could be used to<br>store small items, the men who wore kimono needed a larger and stronger<br>container in which to store personal belongings, such as s, , money and seals,<br>resulting in the development of containers known as sagemono, which were hung by<br>cords from the robes' sashes (obi).<br><br>These containers may have been pouches or small woven baskets, but the most<br>popular were crafted boxes (inrō) held shut by ojime, sliding beads on cords.<br>Whatever the form of the container, the fastener which secured the cord at the<br>top of the sash was a carved, button-like toggle called a netsuke. Netsuke, like<br>inrō and ojime, evolved over time from being strictly utilitarian into objects<br>of great artistic merit and an expression of extraordinary craftsmanship.<br>Netsuke production was most popular during the Edo period (1603–1867).<br><br>Netsuke and inrō declined as Japanese clothes were gradually westernized from<br>the Meiji period (1868–1912). Because of their popularity amongst Western<br>collectors at the time, some of the greatest collections are now found outside<br>of Japan
