Netsuke

About this artwork

Inrô and netsuke were usually designed as paired sets, echoing and reinforcing a single theme. In this set, the gold-lacquered inrô is in the shape of a hollowed wooden block of the sort struck in Buddhist rituals to keep time for chanting. It is decorated with dragon faces and dragon scale patterns to situate it squarely in a Chinese otherworld. The accompanying netsuke replicates both the Chinese and percussion themes of the inrô, portraying a figure with a stereotypical Chinese hairstyle marc...

About the Artist

Unknown

The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...