Clothing
+ Fashion		Jewelry +
Watches		Home +
Furniture		 Pottery 
+ Glass		Art +
 Photos 		Paper +
  Books  		Music +
Movies		Toys +
Games		Sports +
Outdoors		Ads +
  Signs  		Eras +
Themes

Netsuke originated in 17th century Japan as a means for men who wore robes known as kimono, which lacked pockets, to hold their belongings. Containers called "sagemono"—pouches, woven baskets, or beautifully crafted boxes called "inro"—were attached to the robes' sashes with cords and fasteners known as netsuke.

These ornaments, often made of ivory or coral, were not merely utilitarian devices, howeve...

The themes depicted on netsuke, only a few inches in size, are endless, though they are often focused on Japanese history and mythology—from depictions of warriors to animals. There are dozens of styles of netsuke, such as kataborinesuke, which is sculptural netsuke, and mennetsuke, which is mask netsuke.

These miniature sculptures are still made today. Fine antique netsuke can be identified by its intricate design and use of pricey materials such as ivory (which was not illegal in the 17th through 19th centuries), jade, or precious stones. Cheaper netsuke is carved out of wood or bone.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell - Share Your Stuff!

» See all netsuke Show & Tells

Interviews & Articles

The Folklore and Fashion of Japanese Netsuke

When men wore kimono in the 17th century, they had hanging containers and pouches called sagemono and stacked containers called in… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Asian Art Museum

Asian Art Museum

This online exhibition from San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum is a great showcase of several thousand Asian antiqu… [read review or visit site]

The Art of Asia

The Art of Asia

This microsite from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts features objects from the Institute’s permanent collection,… [read review or visit site]

Gotheborg.com

Gotheborg.com

Jan-Erik Nilsson's extensive reference on antique Chinese porcelain. Jam-packed with information (e.g. on porcelain… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Asian

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 201 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Japanese Netsuke Old Man Carrying Fish Signed 19th CenturyAntique Signed Netsuke Lantern With Face With 3 Eyes And Tongue That MovesHand Carved Ox Bone Okimono - Three Frogs Climbing On Leaf - Signed - JapaneseFather & Son - Beautiful Ox Bone Netsuke *uk441#5120 Japanese Samurai Edo Antique Inu Ushi Zu Makie Inro & Oni NetsukeExquisite Japanese Carved Ox Bone Figure Ca1900 No ReserveOx Bone Bein Os Statue Sculpture Netsuke Okimono Father And Son Antique Signed Netsuke Of A Man And Boy On A Turtle Antique Signed Netsuke Of Man Smoking A PipeAntique Netsuke Of Man Sitting On Top Of AnotherVintage Japanese 1930's Netsuke - Woman & Fishes - Signed19th Century Chinese Deep Carved Ox Bone Figures No ReserveAntique Signed Netsuke Of ManJapanese Carved Ox Bone Okimono Of Five Dancing GeishasAntique Signed Netsuke Of Boy And Mystical Item On Bottom Antique Netsuke Of Man With Rotating FacesInro Japanese Lacquer Sagemono Makie Ojime Netsuke Edo Period Shinobugusa Design5 Antique Japanese Netsuke Of Mermaid, Sages, Noh Mask...Netsuke--4 Men And A Carrier--holes- Marked-pure2 Antique Japanese Netsuke Frog & Group Of TurtlesAntique Japanese Rare Material Netsuke Turning Face Boy & Devil Carving Trade-beads-antique-rare-japanese-carved-nut-ojime-for-netsukeAntique Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke Okimono Carved Rabbit Hare Signed 19th CenturyAntique Woolly Material Japanese Netsuke Swimming Goldfish Carving N3368Antique Woolly Material Japanese Netsuke Chinese Foo Dog Carving N3493Hand Carved Japanese Wooden Netsuke - Frog On A Bamboo Shoot - SignedHand Carved Japanese Wooden Netsuke - Oriental - Tiger In Bamboo Shoot - SignedAntique Woolly Material Japanese Mini Netsuke Elephant Carving N3411Beautifully Carved Japanese Ox Bone Netsuke In The Form Of An Ape Amazing DetailAntique Laquer 5 Chamber Inro Of Farmers At Work & Pufferish NetsukeAntique Carved 19th Century Chinese Porcelain Netsuke EroticaFine Meiji Japanese Carved Ox Bone Okimono Farmer Man Children Group Signed NrFine Carved Antique Meiji Ox Bone Insect Covered Large Box C1900 NrPenguin - Very Nice Tagua Nut Netsuke *uk600Antique 6.5" Japanese Meiji Carved Ox Bone Signed Scribe Okimono Statue C.1800'sOx Bone Small Chinese Boy With Marrows Netsuke/toggle Amazing Detail Early C19thStunning Ox Bone/ Faux Ivory Puzzle Ball Handcarved In 1930's Pristine ConditionNice Japanese Cloisonne Monkey Netsuke (inro, Sagemono, Ojime, Toggle)Antique & Signed Japanese Carved Ox-bone Frog & Octopus Figure Netsuke/okimonoVintage Faux Ivory Japanese Netsuke - Hand Carved & Stained - Estate FindSet Of Three Frogs On Turtle With Lilies Signed Netsuke Ox BoneSuperb Japanese Carved Ox Bone Figure Ca1900 No ReserveAntique Meiji Japanese Carved Ox Bone Okimono Man Basket Signed NrRabbit On Cabbage - Beautiful Ox Bone Netsuke *uk448Antique Netsuke - Nice Detail - Attractive - 1.75 Inches TallRare Old Japanese Shibayama Manju Kagamibuta Inlaid Netsuke Flowering PlantTiger King - Wonderful Ox Bone Inro & Ojime / Netsuke Authentic Hand Carved Netsuke - Master Carver Signed - Tagua Ivory #15Antique Gilt And Laquer 4 Chamber Inro With Birds Bone And Ceramic NetsukeJapanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man With Bag & Fruit - SignedJapanese Ox Bone Netsuke Man Resting On SackTurtles & Lotus - Beautiful Ox Bone Netsuke *uk4452'' Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign WeightlifterJapanese Ox Bone Netsuke Brooch Japanese Carved Netsuke, Rabbit And Turtle, Artist Signed!!!Fine Antique Carved Ox Bone Japanese Panda Bear Ojime Bead Signed NrJapanese Ox Bone Netsuke Fisherman - SignedJapanese Wood Carved Netsuke Pot Bellied ManFranklin Mint The Curio Cabinet Cat Collection Netsuke Cat Figurine Ox Bone Bein Os Statue Sculpture Netsuke Okimono Guan Yin 30cm
»» Get our weekly Netsuke email



Right now on eBay

Asian

Ceramics
Chinese
Japanese
Other
suggest a category

Share