Netsuke are cute talismans for all occasions, essentially Japanese miniature sculptures, often in a cartoon style. These can be figures of various deities, people and even animals. An interesting appearance made talismans popular not only among eastern peoples, but in our area.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with the whole variety of Japanese figurines and understand their meaning. Armed with new knowledge, you can choose a netsuke sculpture for yourself.
The history of netsuke
By the standards of history, this art originated quite recently in the 16th–17th centuries. But it became popular only in the 19th century, when the interpretation of the images of figurines completely changed. At that time, Japan was under the control of a military government, whose policy was aimed against luxury, to preserve the structure of society with strict distinctions between classes. The laws that were passed strictly regulated the way of life of each class, including what material a dress should be made from and how many floors a house could have.
When netsuke first appeared, they were not shrouded in mysticism, mystery and legends and were not considered an object of worship. They served as a regular keychain for a belt and were considered simply a decorative element in clothing. The traditional culture of Japanese costume does not provide for the presence of pockets, but there is always a belt. Therefore, to carry keys, pouches, pipes or medicines, small sagemono (bags, boxes, baskets) were used, which were hung from the belt using netsuke.
Using a cord, the figurine was tied together with a tiny wicker basket or wooden box as follows:
- A cord tied into a ring was pushed through the belt;
- Netsuke was inserted into a loop located above the belt;
- The sagemono was secured in the lower loop. The knot of the lace was hidden inside the netsuke, so the decoration always looked neat.
Japanese netsuke figurines are still relevant today. They are used as key rings, carried with them everywhere as a talisman for good luck, and decorate the interior.
