asianhistory: Netsuke of Two Male FiguresDate: 19th century, Japan.Medium: Ivory And “Pop

asianhistory:

Netsuke of Two Male Figures
Date: 19th century, Japan.
Medium: Ivory

And “Pop Netsuke (Anger)” available on Redbubble as shirts, prints, journals, or anything else, if you’d like one of your own or to support Asian History!

The above is a katabori netsuke, or a “sculpture” netsuke. Netsuke are Japanese in origin, and provided people with a unique way to combine function and fashion:

The traditional form of Japanese dress, the kimono, had no pockets. Women would tuck small personal items into their sleeves, but men suspended their tobacco pouches, pipes, purses, writing implements, and other items of daily use on a silk cord passed behind their obi(sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. The netsuke was attached to the other end of the cord preventing the cord from slipping through the obi. A sliding bead (ojime) was strung on the cord between the netsuke and the sagemono to allow the opening and closing of the sagemono.

The entire ensemble was then worn, at the waist, and functioned as a sort of removable external pocket. All three objects (netsuke,ojime and the different types of sagemono) were often beautifully decorated with elaborate carving, lacquer work, or inlays of rare and exotic materials. Subjects portrayed in netsuke include naturally found objects, plants and animals, legends and legendary heroes, myths and mystical beasts, gods and religious symbols, daily activities, and myriad other themes.

-International Netsuke Society