Every traditional Japanese art and technique developed from

Every traditional Japanese art and technique developed from competition between Eastern and Western Japan, while establishing their own unique forms. Netsuke are no exception. While the Kyoto School in the West had a gracious character reflecting the capital's elegant atmosphere, the Edo School in the East placed higher value on stylishness and minute design details. A Foreigner Carrying on Octopus・Unsigned・Ivory

In Japan, Fukurokuju (福禄寿) (from Japanese fuku, "happiness"; roku, "wealth"; and ju, "longevity") is one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese mythology. It has been theorized that he is a Japanese assimilation of the Chinese Three Star Gods (Fulushou) embodied in one deity. Most related in appearance to the Chinese star god Shou, he is the God of wisdom and longevity Fukurokuju, as turtle - wood, Shumin; fukurokuju and turtle are both associated with longevity

Saitō no Musashibō Benkei (西塔の武蔵坊 弁慶? , 1155– 1189), popularly called Benkei, was a Japanese warrior monk (sōhei) who served Minamoto no Yoshitsune. He is commonly depicted as a man of great strength and loyalty, and a popular subject of Japanese folklore. Benkei and Yoshitsune : wood, Shoko.

19 th century stained elephant ivory Netsuke depicting a seated monkey trainer and monkey. Nicely carved with fine surface detail. Trainer wears a kimono with a hooded outer wrap fastened at the neck like a cloak. Both figures are decorated on the arms and back with geometric designs. Both figures engage the viewer, while the monkey leans affectionately on its master's shoulder, accenting the relationship between human and simian. Carving is skilled, with subtle details and well defined facial features.

Daikokuten, the god of great darkness or blackness, is one of the Seven Gods of Fortune. Daikokuten evolved from the Hindu deity, Shiva. The god enjoys an exalted position as a household deity in Japan. Daikoku's association with wealth and prosperity precipitated a custom known as fuku-nusubi, or "theft of fortune". This custom started with the belief that he who stole divine figures (gods and goddesses) was assured of good fortune, if not caught in the act of stealing. In the course of time, stealing divine images became so common a practice in Japan that the Toshino-ichi or the "year-end-market" held in the Asakusa Kannon temple became the main venue of the sale and disposal of such images by the fortune-seekers daikoku

Seven Gods of Good Luck The Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichi Fukujin), refer to the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese mythology and folklore. They are often the subject of netsuke carvings and other representations. Many figures in Japanese myth were transmitted from China (some having entered China from India), including all of the Seven Lucky Gods except Ebisu. Another god, Kichijōten, goddess of happiness, is sometimes found depicted along with the seven traditional gods, replacing Jurōjin, the reasoning being that Jurōjin and Fukurokuju were originally manifestations of the same Taoist deity, the Southern Star. However, as is often the case in folklore, Japanese gods sometimes represent different things in different places. From left to right: Soldan Sağa Hotei, Juroujin, Fukurokuju, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Daikokuten, Ebisu

Daikoku carving rat: wood and ivory, Tokoku; rat is associated with Daikoku

IVORY NETSUKE Early 20 th Century By Tokoku. In the form of Daikoku with a treasure sack. Various inlays. Inlaid signature plaque Daikoku, in Japanese mythology, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (Seven Gods of Luck); the god of wealth and guardian of farmers. He is depicted in legend art as dark-skinned, stout, carrying a wish-granting mallet in his right hand, a bag of precious things slung over his back, and sitting on two rice bags. Rats are sometimes shown nibbling at the rice, further emphasizing theme of prosperity

Okame shaving Fukurokuju's (tall/long) head: wood, Sosui; sexual reference

As the tanuki, the animal has been significant in Japanese folklore since ancient times. The legendary tanuki is reputed to be mischievous and jolly, a master of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absentminded. It is also a common theme in Japanese art, especially statuary. Tanuki with sake bottle: wood, Tomokazu

Ivory dragon netsuke, Edo period

Wooden netsuke depicting a house with a bridge and tree with large cones, figures on the bridge and in a room. Netsuke has a movable part as a frog/snake pops out at the bottom of the house. Two cordholes, one underneath leading through to back. Marked underneath Netsuke depicting a house

Red coral netsuke with applique figure of a warrior with bow on horseback. Metal hook at back. Netsuke with applique figure of a warrior

Oni- 3 -fingered, 3 -toed smallish demons, hiding under hat to avoid beans, Ivory, Meigyokusai Oni (鬼) are creatures from Japanese folklore, variously translated as demons, devils, ogres or trolls. They are popular characters in Japanese art, literature and theatre.

See-hear-speak no evil monkeys (ojime and netsuke), ivory, Kaigyokusai

Rats and Daikoku's hammer: wood, Masakazu

Piebald rat gnawing on its tail. Ivory, eyes originally inlaid in dark buffalo horn. c. 1880. Height 2. 8 cm. שבדרך כלל , שכבה שלמה של אמנים מוכשרים להפליא , כל אחד מהם התמחה ביצור סוג ספציפי של נטסקה ובכך אנו שומעים על אמן שהמשפחה שלו מפסלת . אך ורק חולדות ביפן זה שלושה דורות Rat gnawing on a root vegetable. Ivory with eyes inlaid in dark buffalo horn. Signed 'Ko'. Kyoto, c. 1820. .

Geisha- wood, Gyokuso Geisha- ivory, Ryushi

Ono-no-komachi, wood, Shugetsu

Netsuke: Hanging scroll with image of Shôki and demons, 19 th century Ivory Shôki, the demon queller, is a Chinese legendary figure who passed the imperial examinations yet was denied an official appointment. The anguished Shôki purportedly killed himself on the steps of the imperial palace. After learning of his tragic situation, the Chinese emperor ordered an official burial for this scholar. In appreciation of the emperor's acknowledgment, Shôki promised to quell evil demons from the realm. In his Japanese manifestation, Shôki appears in a Chinese scholar's cap and robe, often with demons underfoot or cavorting nearby. His image adorns banners hung in celebration of the Boys' Day festival (Tango no Sekku) in order to ward off evil spirits and protect the homes of families with male children. Here brandishing a sword over the head of a cowering demon, Shôki threateningly emerges from the hanging scroll on which he is depicted. Shôki's sword pierces through to the back of the scroll, where another demon shields himself from the tip of the blade. The carver's signature and seal appear on the back of the scroll.

Snake on skull- wood, Sukenao

Nue ivory A nue (鵺) is a legendary creature found in Japanese folklore. It is described as having the head of a monkey, the body of a raccoon dog, the legs of a tiger, and a snake as a tail. According to the legend, a nue can metamorphose into a black cloud and fly. Due to its appearance, it is sometimes referred to as a Japanese chimera. Nue are supposed to be bringers of misfortune and illness.

Scribe, ivory, carved by Yasuaki

This shishi broke the world record for a netsuke in November The new £ 265, 250 world record was set for an 18 th century ivory specimen known as a "shishi" or lion-dog. It sold alongside a world record-setting inro (nested boxes), which achieved £ 265, 250. "There has always been an attraction with netsuke in the West, " the head of Bonhams' Japanese department, Suzannah Yip, told the Japan Times. "This is because they are always small, well-carved, portable and very tactile. " Netsuke expert Edmund de Waal agrees. .

Chrysanthemum: ivory, Hideyuki

Chrysanthemum: wood, Sosui

Netsuke: Ox with boy playing flute, 19 th century Wood, ivory, metal Carvers often select rare and expensive woods for their creations or juxtapose various materials in novel compositions. Embedding one material into another requires the utmost precision, particularly when joining materials of differing physical properties, such as wood and ivory. In this example, a young boy playing a flute, carved of ivory, serenades a recumbent ox, made of wood. Fine lines incised on the surface of the ox delineate individual hairs on its hide. The red seal on the ox's underside reads "Tokoku. "

Dragonboat with Shichifukujin

Gama sennin: with frog; ivory, Masatomo.

Crow/raven on skull: ebony and ivory, Meigyokusai

Zodiac Ivory Netsuke Moon Rabbit With Mortar Netsuke Signature: Eiichi, circa: Late 19 th Century (3 cm. ), d. . (2. 5 cm. ) h. (4. 5 cm. ). This charming netsuke depicts the Lunar Rabbit standing on the cloud bank, mixing the elixir of life with pestle and mortar. A story of Chinese origin in which the Lunar Rabbit is a pet of the moon goddess Shang-or. She was the Queen of a tyrant king. For fear that his tyranny would impose endless suffering to the people, Shang-or consumed all his elixir and immediately became an immortal. She then raised up to the moon with her rabbit in arms. The superb artistry of this netsuke lies in its restraint. By avoiding redundant details, the carver has succeeded in creating a compact and bold composition, which conveys sophistication in its design as a netsuke. The netsuke has a rich honey colored patina with an even shine. and is in mint condition.

Beetles: wood and tortoise shell, Akihide

Fox dancer: ivory, Meizan

Mandarin duck: ivory, Sosui

Frog on old well-bucket: wood, Masanao; "what does the well-toad know of the great ocean? "

Sanbaso dancer: ivory and ebony, Rantei

Shôki et oni

IVORY NETSUKE Depicting a man seated in a large straw hat

Man filing toe nails, netsuke 18 -19 th century. György Ráth Museum, Budapest

A visit to the Eye Doctor. 18 -19 th century. György Ráth Museum, Budapest

Wrestling with a Pig Netsuke Carved of Tagua Nut.

Netsuke: Figure of Baku 18 th century Lacquered wood Baku are Japanese supernatural beings that devour dreams and nightmares. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have appeared in Japanese anime and manga The Japanese term baku has two current meanings, referring to both the traditional dream-devouring creature and to the zoological tapir (e. g. , the Malayan tapir)

Antique Carved Ivory Netsuke: Rabbits Unusual antique carved marine ivory netsuke; of an openwork basket/cage with two rabbits on the interior, 19 th Century

Ivory netsuke of a pair of woodcutters with a dog at the feet. Superb detailed carving with the himotoshi under the gourd on the back. Signed on the bottom O-No-Ryomin. 39 mm High.

Ivory netsuke of a seated man carving a mask of okame signed Tomomitsu 19 C Size 37 mm High.

Netsuke of Three Monkeys on the Back of a Fish (Sanbiki Saru) 19 th century Wood 3. 4 x 4. 1 cm

Tobacco Box and Netsuke 19 th century Brass (7. 6 cm)

Museums and Galleries Bolton Museum and Archive Service, Bolton, Lancashire, UK Los Angeles County Museum of Art Robyn Buntin of Honolulu Rutherston and Bandini, London Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, Haifa, Israel Victoria and Albert Museum, London http: //www. metmuseum. org/snetsuke קלריטה ואפרים : הנכם מוזמנים להיכנס לאתר שלנו www. clarita-efraim. com נשמח לתגובות

: מקורות http: //www. japangeo. org. il/crafts/index 3. htm http: //www. netsuke. org/ http: //michaelhampton. blogspot. co. il/2012/09/japanese-netsuke. html http: //www. samourais-et-ikebana. com/art_japon/netsuke. html http: //www. alienor. org/ARTICLES/netsuke/index. htm http: //commons. wikimedia. org/wiki/Category: Netsuke http: //www. liveauctioneers. com/item/15588018_antique-carved-ivory-netsuke -figures http: //www. madinpursuit. com/collections/Asian/Japan_netsuke. html http: //collectionsonline. lacma. org/mwebcgi/mweb. exe? request=record; id=99 791; type=101 http: //www. vintage-books. co. uk/books/harewithambereyes/ http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/List_of_legendary_creatures_from_Japan#M http: //pinterest. com/fizzao/netsuke/ http: //insarchive. internetsuke. com/