Netsuke Or Not?

[hddennis]

I tried to post pictures to my last post about a signature translation but was unable to. I also have this other one that is the smallest I've ever seen and would appreciate your opinions as to use and age.

 

Howard Dennis

[Bugyotsuji]

The quick answer is yes, it is in the overall Netsuke ballpark.

 

On the other hand, it is more of an Okimono, in that it is primarily designed to sit flat on a flat surface, rather than nestle softly and snugly on your obi. One of the guidelines for old Netsuke was that they should fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and have no outstanding protrusions.There came a time in late Meiji and beyond when Netsuke were no longer made as functional Netsuke, and their ability to stand alone gained importance. Also many attempts were made to carve Netsuke-like objects primarily for profit, then as now, but you have to look at the details and decide whether the quality is there. If it is ivory, you have to be absolutely sure that it is a gem, and genuinely old, otherwise the elephant question looms large.

 

My personal opinion is that it is not so old, and the carving is not so good, and therefore it is not a Netsuke in the strictest sense, even though there are always people who will see it as a Netsuke and continue to buy things like this.

 

(One person's opinion.)