Dutchman (Young), Netsuke (Spring 2018)

There are many examples of the so-called Dutchman Netsuke that were made in Japan during the period of two centuries when the Dutch were the only tolerated foreign merchants in Japan, living under strict conditions on the artificial little island of Dejima, or Deshima, nearby Nagasaki (1641-1853). As they were not allowed to travel, they spend their spare time gardening, keeping chicken and ducks or playing a musical instrument, so mostly a Dutchman is depicted carrying a Cock in his arms or playing a flute or horn.

At home, in the Netherlands, it became at the same time customary to send the children to school, carrying a tobacco filled clay pipe, to demonstrate the richness of the parents and the luxurious conditions they were living in, after they had become rich by trade with the far East, trading valuable goods like tobacco, spices (pepper), coffee, tea and, on top of all, slaves from Africa.

That is why I did choose for an ironic interpretation of my Dutchman Netsuke.

Materials: Netsuke made of Boxwood, clay pipe made of Deer Antler.

Marked with a Monogram of T and H in golden Urushi lacquer.

Measurements: 2.66 x 1.06 x 0.71 inch ( 6,75 x 2,7 x 1,8 cm.)