Netsuke came about during Japan's seventeenth century (Edo period). These carved pieces were created for practical purposes - used as the clasps of corded purses that were hidden on a person and held valuables such as monies, tobacco, and jewelry, some even held important papers and the like. The netsuke was well known for both their utility and aesthetic value. These carved pieces often depicted people, places, things, sexual values as well as religious ones, etc. They were carved from materials such as hardwoods, onyx and most favorably: ivory.
Ivory is what an animal's tooth is considered to be when used for material purposes. Often the name of the animal is used when describing something as ivory: elephant ivory pendant, boars tooth ivory sculptures, mammoth ivory and the like. The Japanese would often use ivory for netsuke because of its simplistic beauty. During this time, and even now, the concept of Wabi-Sabi was a popular one. This concept, the honoring of beauty in the mundane to an enlightened level formed some of the core values of that period. Ivory allowed a person to express this beauty in the form of ornamentation without defacing the value of it.
The use of ivory netsuke was a practical choice as well. This material was a durable one for the most part. While historians today do not have many remnants of ancient ivory pieces, due to their susceptibility to the elements, newly made pieces, and netsuke during the seventeenth century lasted quite some time if well cared for. In some cases, depending on the mammals tooth used, pieces were more durable that others. With this in mind, some teeth cannot be used in the carving of ivory because of their strength and hardness. Certain teeth are just unable to be carved.
What has been preserved of ancient Japanese Ivory Netsuke has opened the world of Easter histories to experts and enthusiasts today. The ivory netsuke are a perfect representation of not only the art and craftsmanship of Edo period Japan but also the life styles, ideologies, relationships, and core values of the peoples alive during that time. With the netsuke representing the myths, history, and culture of this time period, an unlimited source of insight and knowledge is available to the world today. As they physically clasp together the ends of a cord, so to, do they bridge the distance between two very different worlds.
Select from a wide variety of netsuke carved from numerous materials, if you are looking for a specific piece. There are online stores that sell these at affordable prices to help you own netsuke.
Anita Satin Choudhary writes for Ivory Netsuke Gallery. Browse the gallery for unique collection of ivory netsuke at Ivory Netsuke
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