南蛮人牙彫根付|Dutchman with a Rooster
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm); W. 1 1/8 in. (2.8 cm); D. 11/16 in. (1.7 cm)
Classification
Netsuke
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1910
Accession Number
10.211.1444
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ivory netsuke, titled *Dutchman with a Ro* (南蛮人牙彫根付), hails from Japan's Edo period (1615–8), specifically the late 18th century.ved by an unknown artist, it measures just 3⅝ inches high, embodying the intricate miniature artistry of netsuke—small toggles worn on kimono sashes to secure inro pouches. The figure depicts a "Nanbanjin," or Southern Barbarian, a Japanese term for Western traders, here portrayed with a lively rooster, blending exotic curiosity with everyday symbolism. During Japan's sakoku isolation policy, contact with foreigners was limited to Dutch merchants at D...