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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Japan
- Period
- Meiji period 1868 - 1912 → Japan
- Date
- 19th century
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- carved ivory
- Dimensions
- 10.6 x 4.0 cm
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Bequest of Henry Albert Nathan 1941
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 7159.40
- Copyright
- Share
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About
Traditional Japanese clothes do not have pockets. Some objects such as multipurpose tissues or fans were carried in the bosom (between the front collars) while others, like 'inro' (men's medicine containers) and tobacco pouches, were hung from the waist by a cord which was slipped under the 'obi' (a sash worn around the waist) with a netsuke (toggle) at the other end to stop it from falling. These were fashion statements as well as practical objects, and are often beautiful works of art. 'Netsuke', usually made of wood or ivory/staghorn, represent a wide range of subjects - animal, mythical, exotic, humorous and erotic - and were eagerly collected in the West. The functional hole distinguishes a 'netsuke' from ornamental carved objects.
'Netsuke', The Asian Collections, AGNSW, 2003, pg.223.
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Places
Where the work was made
Japan
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Bibliography
Referenced in 1 publication
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Jackie Menzies (Editor), The Asian Collections Art Gallery of New South Wales, 'The World of Samurai Culture', Sydney, 2003, 223 (colour illus.).
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Provenance
Albert Henry Nathan, pre 1940, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, bequeathed to the Art Gallery of New South Wales 1941.