Wood, bone
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1911)
Folding tachibana with go players inside
Richly detailed work
Dimensions: 3.5 x 4 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Private collection Cologne
Fine and decorative handmade netsuke

This Japanese netsuke was hand carved from wood and comes from the Meiji period (1868-1911). This item is a so-called trick netsuke. The tachibana citrus fruit can be opened and contains inside two figures during the go game. The figures, probably hermit, are rendered in in rich detail and have individual faces with a cheerful expression. Small inlays of bone are worked as gaming pieces and in the form of the closure. The netsuke can be fastened with a band.



The trick netsuke is in good condition with slight signs of age and wear, such as small nicks here and there. The height measures 3.5 cm and the width is 4 cm.



Japanese Netsuke

Japanese netsuke are small carvings hung on cords as counterweights to the sagemono (‘hanging container’) that were attached to the belt of kimonos, which would otherwise have no pockets. This enabled the wearer to carry small objects like pipes, tobacco, money or other personal belongings. Netsuke were initially made of root wood, but later included ivory, whale and walrus tusk, boxwood, bamboo and stag horn. Netsuke were often mythologically significant. The motif of the ‘Seven Lucky Gods’ was particularly popular, but animals, flowers, fruits and other everyday objects were also carved. Netsuke originated in the late 17th century with the rise of the middle class and remained in use until the 1880s, when the kimono began to go out of style as an everyday item of clothing.

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