Functional Japanese Netsuke
Product Of Carver’s Skill

A netsuke is a Japanese carving of small size, made either with two holes drilled in the base or with two openings incorporated into the design. It was made originally to be attached by a cord to an article, usually a small box (inro) or pouch that was hung over a sash (obi) of the native costume, the kimono. The pouch took the place of pockets.

At first, the netsuke was only a functional object. The very first were no more than shells, gourds, stones, wood or bamboo found naturally. Later, they were carved from wood, ivory, lacquer, porcelain and metal, and a few other materials occasionally.

Ivory was the most popular and probably the material most desired by collectors today. It responded well to the carver’s skill and the smoothness, luster and texture were very pleasing to the owner.

Wood was also a very popular medium, especially in the early pieces. The variety in texture, grain and color of wood enhanced the design in the hands of a clever sculptor.

Some of the finest netsuke are of staghorn. It is harder and more resistant to wear than ivory.

Among the scarcer materials used were boar tusk, coral, amber and tortoise shell.

During the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries, carvers lavished thought and skill on these objects, and extremely fine and beautiful netsuke were made. They came to be personal jewelry for the men. Costly, beautiful netsuke were purchased to reflect a person’s status, just as certain brands of watches are today.

In 1781, there were 57 carvers recorded, all with markedly individual styles. Many of the pieces were signed, but some of the finest, especially the very early ones, were not. Even a signature is no guarantee of origin, since a master’s signature was also used by his students, as well as by imitators.

A sculptor of netsuke worked under rigid restrictions imposed by its use. First, the piece had to be small. Netsuke average about 1 1/2 inches in size, with a usual range of 1 to 3 inches. Then, it had to be strong and sturdy enough to support the weight of the inro, pouch or purse and to withstand daily wear and tear. There could be no protruding sharp parts that could catch and tear the kimono; the overall shape must be smooth and rounded.

Since it was also expected to be handled, it had to be finished on all sides.
Finally, since it had holes, these had to be incorporated into the design in such a way that they did not detract and so they would allow the netsuke to hang naturally and face forward.

Therefore, the carving of a netsuke required a talent that could combine creativity with functional requirements.

The impetus to the development of the netsuke was the widespread use of tobacco at the beginning of the 17th century. Loose tobacco was carried in a pouch hung from the sash. This tobacco pouch was carried by everyone, from samurai to fishermen.

Over the years, netsuke had to adapt to changing styles in fashion, as well as reflecting the owner’s station in life. A heavy wood or leather piece was needed by a farmer to suspend a wooden tobacco pouch. A merchant could choose a lighter, more elegant style.

A recent publication, featuring almost one thousand photographs of netsuke, is Netsuke, by Mircea Veleanu (Schiffer Publishing, 2008.) They are organized by subject matter, representing Japanese life, customs, religion, professions, art, history and legends. Estimated values are included. The text introduces, defines and describes the various types of netsuke and helps identify the subjects represented. Important evaluating tips are also provided.

The book (ISBN: 978-0-763-2847-3) is priced at $79.95. Check with your local bookseller or order online at www.schifferbooks.com.

Donna Miller

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Padded For Safety

The very earliest known use for quilts was as armor, during and prior to the Middle Ages. It was made of a strong material such as linen, which was thickly padded and stitched. Although not effective like the later armor made of metal, it helped absorb some of the blows of battle.

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Ticket Punches Thwarted Cheaters

As the railroads swept across America in the second half of the 1800s, passenger travel by train became the standard method of travel. Millions of tickets were issued at depots and ticket agencies. Despite the quantity in which they were sold however, they are difficult to find today, due to the practice of surrendering a ticket at the end of a journey. After tickets were collected and processed through an accounting office, they were usually destroyed.

The railroad companies were always needing to find ways to thwart the cheaters, those who were looking for a free ride. (this refers to those who tried to sit in a seat and get their free ride and not to those hiding out in a corner of a boxcar!)

Several techniques for checking tickets were tried to combat the problem. The one that finally worked best was a ticket punch. The idea originated in the United States with a conductor on the Erie Railroad. His notion was that a punch, similar to a pair of pliers in appearance, could be fitted with a die that had a special design for each conductor. This punched design served as a signature. When a conductor checked a ticket for validity, the design was easily identifiable. Each conductor's design was kept on record in his home office.

Some railroads used hundreds of designs through the years. The Pennsylvania Railroad is said to have had more than 2500 on file. These ticket punches are interesting additions to collections of railroadiana.

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