Japanese Netsuke

by Hutt, Julia

• ISBN13: 9780810966093
• ISBN10: 0810966093
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-12
• Publisher: Victoria & Albert Museum

Summary

Drawing on the Victoria and Albert Museum's fine collection, Japanese Netsuke examines these appealing, accessible, and often humorous works of art in the broadest possible context. In a text that is both comprehensive and entertaining, Julia Hutt traces the history of netsuke, showing how these highly collectible objects originated from belt hangings used by nomads along the Silk Road. The stunning color photographs reveal the full range of subjects portrayed--images of animals, birds, and sea creatures, portraits of dancers and demons, droll cameos of characters from everyday urban life, even a rare poetic evocation of landscape--and the high level of skill involved in their creation. The richness and diversity of the materials used, as well as the different sources of inspiration, are also discussed, providing an indispensable guide for collectors and all those interested in Japanese decorative arts.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	6	(2)
Map	8	(2)
1 Netsuke: An Introduction	10	(6)
2 Origins and Early Development of Netsuke	16	(10)
3 Function and Forms of Netsuke	26	(12)
4 Materials, Techniques and Manufacture of Netsuke	38	(14)
5 Netsuke Subjects and Design Sources	52	(20)
6 Aspects of Dating Netsuke and Chronological Groupings	72	(14)
7 Netsuke Craftsmen and Centres of Production	86	(14)
8 Collecting Netsuke	100	(4)
Chronologies	104	(1)
Glossary	105	(2)
Select Bibliography	107	(4)
Index	111