Crossword clues for netsuke
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Netsuke \Net"su*ke\, n. [Jap.] In Japanese costume and decorative art, a small object carved in wood, ivory, bone, or horn, or wrought in metal, and pierced with holes for cords by which it is connected, for convenience, with the inro, the smoking pouch (tabako-ire), and similar objects carried in the girdle. It is now much used on purses sold in Europe and America.
Wiktionary
n. A small, often collectible, artistic carving characterized by an opening or two small holes ((term lang=ja 紐通し tr=himotōshi)), most commonly made of wood or ivory, used as a fob at the end of a cord attached to a suspended pouch containing pens, medicines, or tobacco. Netsuke originated in feudal Japan in the late 16th and 17th centuries.
Wikipedia
are miniature sculptures that were invented in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical function (the two Japanese characters ne+tsuke mean "root" and "to attach"). Traditional Japanese garments—robes called kosode and kimono—had no pockets; however, men who wore them needed a place to store their personal belongings, such as pipes, tobacco, money, seals, or medicines.
Their solution was to place such objects in containers (called sagemono) hung by cords from the robes' sashes ( obi). The containers may have been pouches or small woven baskets, but the most popular were beautifully crafted boxes ( inrō), which were held shut by ojime, which were sliding beads on cords. Whatever the form of the container, the fastener that secured the cord at the top of the sash was a carved, button-like toggle called a netsuke.
Netsuke, like the inrō and ojime, evolved over time from being strictly utilitarian into objects of great artistic merit and an expression of extraordinary craftsmanship. Such objects have a long history reflecting the important aspects of Japanese folklore and life. Netsuke production was most popular during the Edo period in Japan, around 1615–1868. Today, the art lives on, and some modern works can command high prices in the UK, Europe, the USA, Japan and elsewhere. Inexpensive yet faithful reproductions are available in museums and souvenir shops.
Usage examples of "netsuke".
Now he collects Japanese netsuke, Hopi kachina dolls, and Navaho rugs.
The antique cabinet that had once held a collection of matchbox covers now held a Japanese dagger, some netsuke and an assortment of other small oriental artefacts.
The attraction of antique netsuke grants Essential Shotokan an advantage it has not earned.
There was a small glass cabinet on a stand with some netsuke carvings on display.
It was a netsuke of the eighteenth century, carved by Masanao of Kyoto, a toggle once used by the Japanese to hold the partitioned box which contained personal possessions, the cord between box and toggle threaded behind the sash.
One day, he thought, I will have the finest collection of Masanao netsuke in the world.
He opened it under the desk lamp and looked at the ten Masanao netsuke, each in its open compartment lined with white silk.
Just the kind of idiot pastime one would expect of old gentlemen who lived in Vevey and had valuable stamp collections, or ivory netsuke, or erotica.
His office, which displayed only a small but spectacular grouping of jade netsuke, had the organizational rigor of a military locker room.
A glass case displayed ivory netsuke, a comb and brush set of mother-of-pearl, earrings of black pearl and golden filigree, everything a little chipped, a little shabby, and over it all reigned thin, dyspeptic Agawa at the counter with an abacus, ashtray and pack of Golden Bats.
William turned his attention to Damon, who was standing in front of a display case and fingering the premier example of his netsuke collection.
The decor was Oriental, stark interiors in which were displayed works of art that Peter knew from his previous visit were of incalculable value antique Japanese brush paintings on silk panels, carvings in jade and ivory, a display of tiny netsuke and in an atrium through which they passed was a miniature forest of Bonsai trees in their shallow ceramic bowls, the frozen contortions of their trunks and branches a sign of their great age.
There were three glass shelves with rows of netsukes, little figurines carved of ivory.
Mainwaring showed us a couple of very fine old netsukes, abominably indecent, which he meant to bring past the customs in his pocket.