| Netsuke: In 17th century Japan, men wore robes called
kimonos or kosodes. These garments did
not have pockets and so personal items, such as money, or pipes and tobacco,
were carried in special pouches, baskets, or boxes that were suspended by cords
from a sash around the waist. The
netsuke, (pronounced “netskeh”), was a fastener – similar to a button-like
toggle – that secured the cords of the purse to the sash. Over time, netsukes became important artistic
forms and were carved from wood, ivory, porcelain, and other materials. Netsukes depicted many forms including
animals, plants, gods and mythical creatures.
The carved-wood netsukes in this picture depict Japanese masks.
Can you think of another collection at the Allen County
Museum that shares similarities with netsukes?
(Hint: the collection was donated
by Bertha Beam)
|
|
