Featured Horse Man Netsuki Help Identifying

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by George Chaney, May 23, 2022.

  1. George Chaney

    George Chaney Well-Known Member

    I can't recall where I picked this up. I assume, given how much I love box lots at auctions, that it would have come from one of those.

    Regardless, I would love to know more about who made it given it is signed, I assume it is Japanese in origin. Possibly age range if identifiable artist. Asian items are not things I tend to mess with so sometimes I just use my best good faith effort to identify.

    Thanks in advance.

    20220523_143610.jpg 20220523_143615.jpg 20220523_143621.jpg 20220523_143633.jpg 20220523_143643.jpg 20220523_143659.jpg
     
  2. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    The equal sized holes suggest it was done as a decorative item.
     
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  3. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    "The equal sized holes suggest it was done as a decorative item."

    I'm curious about that. Do you mean Primarily Decorative...?

    Netsuke are functional as preventers for the cords on Inro's from slipping from under the sash that secures a garment...I thought. Decoration was important, but secondary. Is this inaccurate?

    Is there significance to equal vs unequal hole size?
     
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  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    the ones 4 use have 2 different sized holes..
    [​IMG]

    but I'm unsure that, that is written in stone..
    .
     
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  5. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I think this was made in the post Meiji period was was not intended as a functional object.

    See your other post, which I think shows a real, functional, netsuke.
     
  6. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Uhhh...which one? That's my only post in this thread.
     
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  7. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

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  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

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  9. Potteryplease

    Potteryplease Well-Known Member

    May I ask, why is that? If the holes hold the same thickness of cord, why the different sizes? (Sorry for my ignorance!)
     
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  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    some thoughts.......

    The two cord-hole sizes in the netsuke are another indicator, Sandfield says: When one of the two holes is larger than the other, the netsuke is likely to be from the 18th Century.

    .
    Most 19th and early 20th century himotoshi seem to be two same size holes. most contemporary carvers seem to prefer the large/small hole kind of himotoshi if the design doesn't provide a natural cord attachment. The large hole was to provide a place for the cord knot.

    both are taken from unverified sources
     
  11. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    Kimonos did not have pockets, so the little necessities would be carried in a small bag or box (inro) suspended from the obi sash and secured from slipping away by the netsuke. A cord ran from the inro to the netsuke. The cord was fed through the small hole and then knotted on the end. The large hole accommodated the knot.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2022
  12. Barry Stephen

    Barry Stephen Active Member

     
  13. Barry Stephen

    Barry Stephen Active Member

    sorry my comment was put inside the reply above somehow as the last paragraph
     
  14. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Absolutely right though, so everyone, please click on 'expand' in Barry's first post. It is best not to buy netsuke, because most of them are either late examples or fakes, and many not Japanese made.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2022
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  15. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    The lower one seems to be larger, which only goes to show that size doesn't matter, in himotoshi.:playful:
     
  16. George Chaney

    George Chaney Well-Known Member

    Any idea what the letters say? I am not able to read the script on the item
     
  17. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure it says anything. On the ones that aren't old and made to be used as netsuke, the script can be made up, especially if they are not made in Japan.
     
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