Art Institute of Chicago

Netsuke

Japanese

Date: Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium: Carved wood
Culture: Japan
Department: Arts of Asia
Institution: Art Institute of Chicago

Inrô and netsuke were usually designed as paired sets, echoing and reinforcing a single theme. In this set, the gold-lacquered inrô is in the shape of a hollowed wooden block of the sort struck in Buddhist rituals to keep time for chanting. It is decorated with dragon faces and dragon scale patterns to situate it squarely in a Chinese otherworld. The accompanying netsuke replicates both the Chinese and percussion themes of the inrô, portraying a figure with a stereotypical Chinese hairstyle marching to the beat of a drum as large as himself. Though in modern times, sets have often been broken up to cater to the separate markets of inrô and netsuke collecting, this set fortunately remains intact.

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