Collecting 101

An Introduction to Japanese Netsuke

From their first appearance in the great cities of seventeenth-century Japan, netsuke were used as practical toggles for suspending everyday items from a man’s sash (since the traditional male kimono had no pockets) but, more importantly, they also signalled their owners' interests, discernment, and relative wealth.

 Netsuke rapidly developed from utilitarian objects into miniature sculptural masterpieces. Today, they're feverishly sought after by enthusiasts worldwide, while some of the finest examples are regularly showcased in leading museums such as the V&A in London, the Baur Foundation in Geneva, Tokyo National Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

1.

Diversity

For the intellectually curious, netsuke offer a window onto a vast universe of Japanese and East Asian history, myth, belief, arts and crafts, flora and fauna, ghosts and demons. From mythological creatures to popular kabuki actors, netsuke subjects mirror the artistic trends and cultural icons of the day, offering an insight into the original wearer's life and interests.

As your collection grows, you’ll find yourself exploring a rich and varied cultural landscape, from ancient Chinese legends and fabulous beasts to the sights of urban life in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Edo (Tokyo), at that time the most populous city on earth: the sheer variety of netsuke inspires budding and expert collectors alike to build a portable three-dimensional encyclopedia of Japan.

2.

Authenticity

Netsuke have been avidly collected outside of Japan for well over a century and their popularity has stimulated the production of many copies and fakes, sometimes making it difficult to determine authenticity. In addition, although signatures can help identify the artist behind a particular piece, many netsuke are unsigned.

Despite these challenges, you can bid with confidence at Bonhams netsuke auctions, secure in the knowledge that our specialists have applied decades of experience to the complex task of analysing the age, style, material, maker and date of each piece.

Many of the old collections were thoroughly photographed and catalogued, often making it possible to trace a piece’s ownership pedigree through several generations from the early pioneers to the great sales of the last fifty years.

The Bonhams Japanese Art Department has unrivalled access to this provenance information and uses its expertise and knowledge to trace back the history of each netsuke before it goes under the hammer, maintaining consistently strong prices and often achieving five-figure sums at auction. In December 2022, at Bonhams New York, a wood netsuke of a kirin on a cloud set a new world record price for a netsuke, achieving $441, 375, supplanting the past record of a netsuke of a shishi (mythological lion) which fetched £265,250 in auction at Bonhams London in 2011.

3.

Sculptural Quality

Though small in physical size, netsuke are Japan’s greatest non-religious sculptures.

As older Buddhist imagery became stereotyped, netsuke carvers developed a fresh approach to sculpture, taking inspiration from cutting-edge painters who stressed close observation of nature and competed to produce new and innovative designs; netsuke are thus the only sculptural manifestation of important trends and motifs in later Japanese art.

Drawing on a huge body of pictorial imagery, some from the real world and some from the realms of fantasy, the greatest netsuke-shi (master carvers) created three-dimensional miniatures of unparalleled beauty and power, masterpieces in more than just their faithfulness to life.

4.

Collectability

Famous netsuke aficionados include Parisian collector Charles Ephrussi, ancestor of Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes, and Matsura Seizan, a learned Japanese aristocrat who once lovingly described some 45 of his netsuke from memory and could even recall exactly how he’d combined them in thematic groups with his favourite ojime (beads), pouches, and inro (small interlocking tiered boxes for medicine, ink, or seals).

Even when netsuke show signs of slight wear due to years of loving appreciation, they can fetch between hundreds and thousands of dollars on the market based on artist, condition and motif.

In building a collection, we recommend starting out by focusing on subject matter and quality of carving before moving onto more sought-after schools and artists. Though big names will often be more desirable, originality and artistic appeal can play a more significant role in determining value than the signature of a specific artist.

5.

Celebrity

Netsuke offer the keen collector the opportunity to pursue the work of celebrated names: the Michelangelos, Rodins and Moores of this small but great art form. As ivory disappears from the market, familiar masters like the legendary Masanao and Kaigyokusai are growing hard to find, giving place to other masters:  Naito Toyomasa of Tanba Province, so brilliant at combining intricacy and compactness; Kano Tomokazu of Mino Province, beloved for his lifelike rats and other creatures; or Tametaka of Nagoya, another genius sculptor of the animal kingdom.

Of course, famous names attract clever fakes but our specialists will always be on hand to help you make the right choices as you pursue your passion for this absorbing miniature universe.