Netsuke carved in walnut shell. The extreme hardness of the walnut shell made this figure extremely difficult to carve. The meat inside the shell was removed through himetoshi. Man's figure on one half, woman's figure on the other. Man points to setting sun.
Donor:
Estate of Geraldine C. and Kernan Robson
Collection place:
Japan
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
Geraldine C. Robson
Collection date:
before 1940
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Netsukes
Function:
2.2 Personal Adornments and Accoutrements
Accession date:
1968
Context of use:
Toggle to be attached to the end of a cord and thrust through the sash of a kimono for the support of a purse, pouch or lacquer box.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
height 4.4 centimeters
Loans:
S1970-1971 #114: Department of Art History (UC Berkeley) (April 14, 1971–April 15, 1971) and S1970-1971 #60: Decorative Arts Department (UC Berkeley) (December 7, 1970–December 11, 1970)