What is a netsuke?
 

A netsuke is a form of miniature sculpture which developed in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. Netsuke served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Women would tuck small personal items into their sleeves, but men suspended their tobacco pouches, pipes, purses, or writing implements on a silk cord from their obi (kimono sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. To stop the cord from slipping through the obi, a small toggle was attached. The toggle is called a netsuke. (The most popular pronunciation is "net-ski", while the actual Japanese is closer to "netskeh"). A sliding bead (ojime) was strung on the cord between the netsuke and the sagemono to tighten or loosen the opening of the sagemono.

The entire ensemble was then worn, at the waist, and functioned as a sort of removable hip pocket. All three objects (the netsuke, the ojime and the different types of sagemono) were often beautifully decorated with elaborate carving, lacquer work, or inlays of rare and exotic materials, including: wood, ivory, precious metals, shell, coral, and semi-precious stones. All three items developed into highly coveted and collectible art forms.

Where can I buy netsuke?
 

Art Dealers: The International Netsuke Society Dealer's Association is a special group of Asian art and antiques dealers who focus especially on netsuke.  Many of the members exhibit at the International Netsuke Society Conventions.  Please click here for a list of known reputable dealers.

 

Auctions: Three of the world's largest auction houses, Sotheby's, Christie's, and Butterfield's have regular Japanese art auctions, often featuring netsuke, in London, New York, and San Francisco. There are also a variety of smaller auction houses in the United States and Europe that have Asian art auctions, many with netsuke, at least once a year.  Please click here for a listing of auction houses.

Aren't all netsuke made from ivory?
 

No, that is a common fallacy. Only about a half of all netsuke are ivory. Netsukeshi (netsuke carvers) used materials that were available. Only artists located in Osaka, Kyoto, and Edo (Tokyo) had access to ivory. Artists outside of these population centers primarily used box or cherry wood, which they stained and polished. However, nearly every material imaginable was used, including narwhal (marine ivory), boar's tusk, amber, stag antler, pottery, bamboo etc.

Are there fake netsuke?
 

Unfortunately, yes, although there are different types of "fakes". There are crude modern copies, referred to as "Hong Kong" netsuke, either in ivory or plastic, that are usually sold for a few hundred dollars in "tourist trap" souvenir shops. There are also good modern copies of 18th and 19th century works, meant to defraud and sold for thousands of dollars. Finally, there are 19th century copies of earlier works that were carved by the Japanese to meet the demand from European collectors. These are excellent works of art, but the difference in value between these copies and the original items can be a factor of ten. Almost all fakes are in ivory, not other materials, since ivory can be carved much more easily and faster.

Are there different styles of netsuke?
 

Yes, with the most common being the katabori or figural netsuke. There are also sashi or long, thin netsuke, that were thrust through the belt, with the sagemono suspended from the end that protrudes below the obi. Manju netsuke are named after a popular bean paste confection that came in a round, flat shape. Kagamibuta (literally, "mirror lid") are a special type of netsuke with a metal lid and a bowl, usually in wood or ivory. Finally, there are mask netsuke, which are miniature versions of the masks used in Noh and Kyogen plays.

Don't the Japanese own all the great netsuke?
 

No, in fact most of the great collections are outside of Japan. The Europeans were the first to collect netsuke, which were exported from Japan in great number during the second half of the 19th century. With the Meiji restoration in 1868, western dress was adopted in Japan and netsuke lost their raison d'être. Very large collections were built in England, France, and the United States. Today, many of the best collections are still in Europe and the United States either in private hands or museums.

Where can I see good netsuke?
 

In the United States, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has a permanent exhibition of 150 netsuke from the Raymond and Frances Bushell collection. There are a total of 600 netsuke in the collection, which are regularly rotated into the exhibition. Numerous United States museums have netsuke collections, but they usually exhibit just a few at a time. The British Museum in London also has a permanent exhibition of netsuke from the A.H. Grundy collection.

Are all netsuke signed?
 

No, there are many great unsigned netsuke. In fact, the netsuke considered by many experts to be the greatest of all is unsigned. It is an 18th century ivory netsuke depicting an Ama (Japanese diving girl) and a squid. Some collectors prefer unsigned works, since they avoid the controversy of whether the work is by a famous artist, or just a copy.

What are the good books on netsuke?
 

Today there are a wealth of good books, with beautiful illustrations, on netsuke. Two good works for beginners, both by Raymond Bushell, are An Introduction to Netsuke and The Wonderful World of Netsuke. Two volumes, which provide a comprehensive look at netsuke, are Netsuke by Neil K. Davey and Collectors' Netsuke also by Bushell. Raymond Bushell has also adapted the most basic work in Japanese on netsuke, The Netsuke Handbook of Ueda Reikichi. Finally, for those collectors interested in reading signatures, there is Netsuke and Inro Artists and How to Read their Signatures by George Lazarnick.

Where can I buy books on netsuke?
 

Three Asian art book dealers have Web sites. They are Paragon Book Gallery Ltd., Han-Shan Tang Books, and Rare Oriental Book Company. Please take a look at our book recommendations by clicking here.

This FAQ compiled for the International Netsuke Society.