3-65 (original number), 4-181 (original number), and 5-151 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.2384
Description:
netsuke: man lying with head on hands on a large doubled over feather. 1.6 cm.
Donor:
Estate of Geraldine C. and Kernan Robson
Collection place:
Japan
Collector:
Geraldine C. Robson
Collection date:
before 1940
Materials:
Ivory (material) and Wood (plant material)
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 1.6 centimeters
Comment:
Per Robeson Accession File: Netsuke in ivory, of man, face down, protrate, on mat-- The K'ou T'ou, in English, the famous "Kow Tow." In 1808, the Russian embassy was sent back, without ever reaching Peking, because the envoy of the czar had refused to perform the K'ou T'ou in audience with the emperor. The greater part of Europeans in China, regarded the prostration of the K'ou T'ou as an acknowledgement of the suzeranity [sic] of China and refused to perform the act. For many years it was a bone of contention.
Loans:
S1970-1971 #109: Department of Art History (UC Berkeley) (April 6, 1971–April 7, 1971) and S1970-1971 #60: Decorative Arts Department (UC Berkeley) (December 7, 1970–December 11, 1970)