Netsuke of an Actor
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 2 in. (5.1 cm); W. 1 in. (2.5 cm); D. 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)
Classification
Netsuke
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Russell Sage, 1910
Accession Number
10.211.469
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate ivory netsuke, carved in Japan during the 19th century, represents the refined tradition of miniature sculpture that flourished in the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Netsuke served a practical purpose as toggles, securing small medicine cases or purses to a man’s sash, yet they also became highly collectible works of art. Their tiny scale—here just two inches tall—demanded extraordinary skill, allowing artisans to capture expressive details in a form that could fit in the palm of the hand. Depicting a theatrical actor, the piece reflects the vibrant world of kabuki, a popular...