根付 Netuke Netsuke
|
Since the traditional Japanese clothes (kimono) had no pockets, men suspended their personal belongings such as wallets, seals, or tobacco cases on a cord from their obi (sashes for kimono). Netsuke is a small toggle to stop things from slipping through the obi. In the early Edo period, Netsuke was made of wood, but later in the middle of Edo period, when it became very popular, a wide variety of Netsuke began to be made using various other materials such as ivory or metals. There were also a wide variety of styles and designs including Katabori netsuke or figural netsuke carved in the shapes of people or animals, Manju netsuke, which is a round type of netsuke shaped like a manju with carvings done in relief, or Kagamibuta netsuke with a metal disc serving as lid to a shallow bowl. In the Meiji period natsuke was favored as the article of export. Now there are a lot of netsuke collecters all over the world and many of the best collections are displayed at overseas museums. Netsuke is an internationally acclaimed handicraft of Japan.
- name
- Netuke