On view
Asian Art
Huo Pavilion
Huo Pavilion
Netsuke: Master and disciple
Japanese
Edo period, 1603–1868 | Meiji era, 1868–1912
y1930-222
Netsuke are toggles made of wood, ivory, or other material. Attached to cords, they are used for hanging a purse, pouch, or other object from the sash (obi) that serves as a belt in traditional Japanese dress. Nestuke were originally designed for men and commonly used with sagemono, or hanging containers, to carry writing kits, seal cases, or tobacco and pipes. Women also eventually adopted netsuke, which they attached to small purses. The netsuke would be left hanging outside the sash, enabling them to be easily located and to serve as attractive accessories. These small items expressed the individual sartorial taste of their wearers, and, after becoming popular export items for foreign collectors, they gradually took on more complex and intricate appearances, as seen here.
Information
Title
Netsuke: Master and disciple
Medium
Wood
Dimensions
h. 3.4 cm., w. 3.9 cm., d. 2.7 cm. (1 5/16 x 1 9/16 x 1 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Horace Morse Collection, given in his memory by his widow, Sarah V. Morse, and his three children: Franklin B. Morse, Class of 1895, Virginia C. Morse, and William O. Morse, Class of 1902, in 1905
Object Number
y1930-222
Place Made
Asia, Japan
Culture
Period
Materials
Subject
William Horace Morse (1840–1904), Japan, until d. 1904; by inheritance to his widow, Sarah V. Morse, and his children, Franklin B. Morse, Class of 1895, Virginia C. Morse, and William O. Morse, Class of 1902, 1904; given to the Princeton University Art Museum, 1905.
