History of the Netsuke.
The origin of Netsuke was born out of practical necessity; in order to carry their belongings such as seal stamps, pipes, medicine, money etcetera, people (Males) sought a way to do so, for the traditional Japanese garment (Kimono) was a simply T-shaped robe, held together by a sash (Obi) and had no pockets. The solution was found in putting the belongings in hanging objects (Sagemono) like a wooden or bamboo container (Inro) or a pouch on a cord which was slided under the obi and was anchored with a dangling contra weight (Netsuke) to obstruct the Sagemono to slip to the ground. This also leaded to the birth of another small object: the Ojime, a sliding bead between the Netsuke and the Sagemono in order to enable the Inro or Pouch to be opened or closed. (See drawing below).
In the seventeenth century, when Netsuke came in general use and evoluated from a product of home industry into a fashionable possession, a small group of professional carvers met the need of the entire population to also own a netsuke and manufactured them on commission. Subjects were often the year of birth of the future owner, animals, gods, mythological figures and so on. They also had to be compact, with non-sharp edges or breakable parts in order to keep them wearable. And the wealthier the future owner or the higher his social position, the more precious the materials that were used, with Elephant tusk Ivory on top of the popularity ranking. Rare and exclusive woods and red and black coral were also very wanted in those days. Nowadays the Netsuke has turned from a practical necessary and fashionable object into a worldwide sought collector’s item and antique netsuke are wanted by japanese, chinese and collectors worldwide and become more scarce year after year.
Modern netsuke carvers are no longer bound to strict rules about the shape and restrictions of the Netsuke and can let their creativity run wild. The only restriction they meet nowadays when carving Netsuke is that the use of materials coming from endangered animal species are strictly forbidden to prevent them from extinction; A condition that I personally fully support.
Dick (T.H.) Speijdel