Pleasure Boat
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); D. 7/8 in. (2.2 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
Bequest of Stephen Whitney Phoenix, 1881
Accession Number
81.1.39
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Asian Art collection, *Pleasure Boat* is exquisite 19th-century netsuke from ivory by an unknown Japanese artist. just 1¼ inches high, 1¾ inches wide, and⅞ inch deep, this miniature sculpture captures the elegance of a traditional pleasure boat, evoking leisurely outings on Japan's serene waterways. Acquired through the 1881 bequest of Stephen Whitney Phoenix, it the refined artistry of the Edo (1615–1868) or early Meiji (1868–1912) period. Netsuke were essential accessories in Edo-period Japan, serving as toggles to secure inro (small medicine boxes ...