Okimono, unsigned, 1880-1900
Ivory

There is a Japanese tradition of eating buckwheat noodles on New Year’s Eve. They are called toshikoshi soba or ‘year-crossing noodles’.

This custom started in the Edo period (1603-1867) when individual birthdays were not celebrated.

The coming of the New Year was regarded as ‘everyone’s birthday’ and long noodles were eaten to wish for long life.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6130

Netsuke, unsigned, 1850-1900
Boxwood

Followers of Zen Buddhism consider cleaning as much more than a chore: it is a spiritual practice.

Monks perform domestic chores as a form of meditation. Indeed, the very act of sweeping and cleaning is a metaphor for cleaning one’s mind and brushing away distractions.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6203

Okimono, unsigned, about 1900
Ivory

This man holds a flask of sake, rice wine.

When you pick up the carving, the man’s head wobbles as if he is drunk. It is too delicate to use as a netsuke.

In the Meiji Period (1868-1912), when there was less demand for netsuke, craftsmen made carvings that would appeal to tourists as souvenirs of Japan.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6116

Netsuke, unsigned, 1750-1820
Ivory

A monkey sits on the shoulder of a trainer who holds an alms basket and a taming stick.

Monkey trainers have a long history in Japan. Monkey dances were a part of religious rituals and the earliest recorded performance dates back to 1245. By the Edo period (1603-1868) monkey performances were a popular entertainment.

00009TEA

Netsuke, unsigned, 1870-1900
Coral, ebony, glass, ivory, gilding

In the Meiji Period (1868-1912) Japan was opening up after centuries of limited contact with the outside world.

Netsuke carvers occasionally made images of people from overseas which look stereotypical or derogatory today.

This man holds a branch of coral, a symbol of long life and good fortune. He may represent a coral diver from the Pacific Islands or Sri Lanka or possibly an enslaved person from Africa.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6269

Netsuke, signed Tomoyuki, 1700-1800
Boxwood

This man is having a smoke with a long pipe in his mouth.

Tobacco probably first came to Japan at the end of the sixteenth century from Spanish, Portuguese and other European traders. By the Edo Period (1603-1868) smoking had become a popular pastime for many people, rich and poor.

N6193b

Netsuke, unsigned, 1880-1900
Boxwood

A male figure polishes the floor on his hands and knees. The swirling patterns of his brush form the character kokoro, which means mind, heart, or spirit.

This refers to the Buddhist saying kokoro wo migaku, the idea that you should nurture and polish your spirit.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6255

Netsuke, signed Gyokurintei, 1880-1900
Boxwood

A woman washes clothes in a round tub, beating them clean with a pestle.

The woman’s head is wobbly and flops down as if she is exhausted by her hard work.

This netsuke was made in the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912) when Japanese craftsmen began making novelty carvings for western collectors.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6199

Netsuke, signed Minkoku, 1800-1900
Boxwood

A cooper is making a wooden oke bucket, scraping the inside of the barrel with a curved blade.

In the Edo period (1603-1868) people used oke buckets to store food such as rice, noodles and pickles as well as water.

Larger ones were used when making rice wine, miso and soy sauce. This large oke was probably made for washing clothes. Wooden oke are still used in Japan today.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6175

Netsuke, unsigned, 1800-1830
Sperm whale ivory

A monkey trainer sleeps with his head resting on his elbow, while his monkey reaches behind his back and steals food from the basket.

Monkey performances were popular during the Edo Period (1603-1868) and often took place in temporary theatres.

Given by Dame Monica Wills, 1931
Ea6855

Okimono, signed Sōzan, 1850-1900
Ivory

Although they may look as if they’re having a cuddle, these two sumo wrestlers are actually struggling to throw each other over!

Sumo wrestlers eat a huge amount of stew at lunchtime, and then have a nap to put on weight.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6108

Netsuke, signed Toshikazu or Juichi, 1880-1900
Ivory

Some netsuke show fantastical creatures or magical stories but some have scenes from everyday life – like this man sorting out a problem with his tooth!

What scene from your everyday life would you make into a netsuke?

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6219

Okimono, unsigned, 1850-1900
Killer whale ivory

Can you see the person under the lion dance costume?

The lion dance at New Year is a Chinese custom that also has a long history in Japan.

People perform the dance to drive away illness and evil spirits and bring good luck. One dancer wears a lion mask whilst another plays the rest of its body.

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6241

Netsuke, unsigned, 1800-1830
Ivory

Do you have a kite at home? They have been used as toys in Japan for over 400 years.

This kite shows the stern face of a yakko, the footman of a samurai warrior. What’s the sternest face you can pull?

Purchased, 1906
E2123

Netsuke, signed Tomochika, 1850-1900
Sperm whale ivory

This well-worn netsuke shows a mother with two children.

You can see a smiling baby bundled on her back and tucked under her coat. Another child holds onto her sleeve and looks up at her.

What do you think they are talking about?

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960
N6216

Netsuke, signed Jūgyoku, 1850-1900

Ivory

This netsuke shows two men in a small boat, the man at the front is playing a flute.

Look underneath to see the carefully carved waves.

If you listen very closely can you hear the crashing and splashing of the waves? Can you make out the tuneful tooting of the flute?

Bequeathed by N. Cooke-Hurle, 1960

N6233