Antique Japanese RARE Boxwood Netsuke, Character of Daruma (Bodhidharma)

Dimensions: 1-1/4”h x 1-7/8”w x 1-1/2”d

Traditionally, netsuke carvers worked in specific formats and adapted all sorts of themes including nature, mythical tales, historical figures, masks, gods, and demons into small, delicate carvings. Three-dimensional figures, (katabori), account for the most numerous types that were carved in the round and referred to as manjū. This beautifully carved Japanese netsuke is of such high quality it had to have been made by a master carver, illustrating the historical Zen patriarch Daruma, sitting in a meditative pose, almost completely enveloped by the folds of his robe. The draped garment with hood is referred to as a cow,l (monk’s hood) and has rounded folds around the face which fall below the neck and covers the top of his head. The expressive face is deeply carved and recognized as Daruma having a determined expression and tiny black onyx eyes, (Onyx was used from antiquity and popular in the 1920s). 

A beautifully detailed Hossu, (short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair or hemp wielded by a Zen Buddhist priest) is engraved into the wood and decorates the top of Daruma’s head and wraps around his head and beneath the face. The two different-sized and functional Himotoshi, (cord holes), are on the underneath side and were once an indicator of age. The reason for the one larger hole in the netsuke was that once the cord had been threaded through the inrō, or Sagemono and ojime, the netsuke would then have been threaded last, and tied with the cord knot inside the larger hole opening. Two of the most commonly used materials for netsuke were ivory and wood, with boxwood from which this piece is made and favored for its fine grain and durability. After the carving, many such figures were finished with natural candle wax, (Rosoku no ro) to bring out the natural qualities of the wood. Primary sources referencing Netsuke are relatively scant so we have included as much pertinent information that would be helpful in its understanding. The piece is unsigned as were many earlier pieces until they began to be exported.

Additional Information: Originally worn as part of a male kimono ensemble by men of the warrior class, inrō and netsuke developed as a form of conspicuous consumption within a culture. An obi sash is wrapped around the body Kimono to hold the garment in place. To carry small items such as tobacco, medicine, and seals, an ingeniously constructed sagemono,(a collective term for “hanging things”). A single cord was threaded through a cord channel on one side of the suspended container, through two holes (himotoshi) in the netsuke, then through the other side of the container, and knotted on the underside of the container. The wearer would slip the netsuke under the obi and dangle it, allowing the sagemono to hang suspended between the waist and hip. To access the contents of the sagemono, the wearer slipped the netsuke behind the obi sash, liberating the ensemble. By sliding the ojime toward the netsuke, the contents of the container were easily accessible.

Condition: Excellent original condition and no sign of wear, no damage, defects, or flaws. Beautifully smooth patina, compact composition, and well-patinated from delicate handling and age.