Netsuke are a part of traditional Japanese clothing. Their origin is mainly a very practical one; since the kimono doesn't have much storage space (i.e. no pockets for example), objects that needed to be taken with, were often hung on cords around the waist. The netsuke is simply an object used as a counter weight to prevent the object from sliding down.
In the early days, these netsuke were often simple objects from natural origin such as pieces of wood, shell or small gourds. But of course, as happens with all kinds of (practical) items that are used on a regular base, the material, style and decoration of netsuke became a way to express the wearer's social status, wealth and spiritual orientation and thus also the craft of making these netsuke became a highly specialized art on its own.
Nowadays, with traditional Japanese clothing of course being worn less, the netsuke are not as often used in their original way anymore. Instead they found their way into the (foreign) collectors circuit, where original ones can now be highly sought after. Which of course in its turn also gives rise to the fabrication of modern ones, often closely mimicking the styles and materials of the old ones.
This netsuke here in our shop is such a recently made one. It is made of resin, which mimicks the appearance of a bone carving. It is modelled in the shape of a foot, with two spiders crawling on it.
Sizes; approximately 55 millimeters long, 35 millimeters wide and 22 millimeters deep. Weight is 31 grams.
