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HomeExploreCollectiblesJapanese Netsuke Carvings in Close-Up
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A rat curls its tail around its body. A quail settles against a spray of millet. These close-ups show how Japanese carvers turned small clothing toggles into animals, figures, and miniature scenes. Look for the details that had to fit comfortably in a hand or against a sash.

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Images18

1
Sleeping Rat by Masanao of Kyoto
Sleeping Rat by Masanao of Kyoto: The sleeping rat folds its feet in close and tucks its long tail around its body. The…
2
Quail on Millet
Quail on Millet: Tiny feathers overlap down the back of this ivory quail. Yamaguchi Okatomo carved the bird settled over…
3
Wooden Hare Signed Masanao
Wooden Hare Signed Masanao: A hare stretches out its forelegs and turns its head to the left. Its folded hind leg forms a…
4
Recumbent Ox Signed Tomotada
Recumbent Ox Signed Tomotada: A rope halter runs along the back of this ivory ox. The carver packed the animal’s folded…
5
Chinese Guardian Lion (Shishi)
Chinese Guardian Lion (Shishi): The open mouth and oversized head give this guardian lion an almost comic expression. The…
6
Toad by Masanao of Ise
Toad by Masanao of Ise: The crouching toad turns its head slightly left. The carver cut the bumps and folds into boxwood…
7
Wooden Toad with Young
Wooden Toad with Young: A smaller toad rides on the adult’s back, its long toes spread against the larger body. The early…
8
Sleeping Shōjō
Sleeping Shōjō: The wood carving shows a shōjō, a sake-loving spirit, asleep with its head in one hand. Masatsugu carved…
9
Sleeping Cat
Sleeping Cat: Kaigyokusai Masatsugu gave this sleeping ivory cat a rounded back and tiny tucked paws. The close-up also…
10
Monkey Holding a Peach
Monkey Holding a Peach: Okatomo carved this Edo-period monkey from elephant ivory and picked out the details in ink. The…
11
Ashinaga and Tenaga with an Octopus
Ashinaga and Tenaga with an Octopus: One figure has long legs, the other long arms. In this Edo-period wood carving, the…
12
Shōki Comes to Life from a Hanging Scroll
Shōki Comes to Life from a Hanging Scroll: The demon queller Shōki emerges sword first from a rolled hanging scroll…
13
Crab on a Lotus Leaf
Crab on a Lotus Leaf: A tiny crab sits on the curling edge of a lotus leaf. The metal scene is set into an ivory bowl, a…
14
Flowers and Grasses with a Praying Mantis
Flowers and Grasses with a Praying Mantis: A praying mantis hides among carved leaves on this late Edo-period ivory disk…
15
Hotei in a Bag with a House-Shaped Inrō
Hotei in a Bag with a House-Shaped Inrō: A small ivory carving of Hotei in his sack is attached by cord to a lacquer case…
16
Stag
Stag: The long neck curves back above the body of this Meiji-period ivory stag. Tiny strokes and dots pick out the animal’s…
17
Dragon in a Nut
Dragon in a Nut: A dragon occupies the hollow of a nut in this 19th-century wood carving. Its small head and coiled body…
18
Noh Mask
Noh Mask: This 19th-century wooden toggle takes the form of a Noh theater mask. The compact face shows how an object meant…

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