Netsuke of Seated Tiger with a Curled-up Tail Across its Back
Unknown Artist
late 18th–early 19th century
Medium
Ivory, horn
Dimensions
H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); W. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm)
Classification
Netsuke
Culture
Japan
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Alvin H. Schechter, 1985
Accession Number
1985.399.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite netsuke, carved from ivory and horn in late 18th– to early 19th-century, captures a seated tiger with its tail curled dramatically across its back. Measuring just 1¼ inches high and 1⁵/₁₆ inches wide, this miniature sculpture exemplifies the netsuke tradition—small toggles worn on kimono sashes (obi) to secure inro pouches for medicines, tobacco, or seals during the Edo period. Crafted by an unknown artist, its compact form belies the remarkable skill in rendering the tiger's fierce yet poised expression, muscular form, and textured fur through precise carving techniques. Netsu...