Ivory netsuke in the form of Hotei lying on his left side, supporting himself on one elbow. In his right hand he holds his fly swatter. The underside is hollowed out. Hotei originated in China where he is said to be identical with Pu-tai Ho-shang, which roughly means the Sack Monk, as he is often depicted with a sack. (However, he is also considered by some to be another Chinese monk, which seems less likely). Hotei is one of the Seven Gods of Prosperity and Prosperity (representing happiness and contentment) and has both Buddhist and Taoist origins. He is considered to be an incarnation of Maitreya, i.e. the coming Buddha. Hotei is the god of tobacconists. In his sack he carries valuable things (takaramono) that children often try to investigate and he is the children's friend. In the 12th century, the category of Buddhist "saints" or disciples in China was expanded from 16 to 18, and Hotei was inducted into that ranks. He appears in many different versions in art, for example in terms of attributes. Hotei can be found, among other things, in the ship that brings riches (takarabune). Literature: Edmunds, William H: Pointers and Clues to the Subjects of Chinese and Japanese Art. London 1934, pp. 394-95.
The kimono having no pockets, accessories have to be carried somehow. Women could put small objects in their sleeves and sash, whereas men, mainly, would hang their various boxes, pipes and brush cases on a cord at their belt. The portable objects are called sagemono. Accessories became identity-forming status objects and an important part of men´s fashion, a world in miniature with a wealth of subjects. Various kinds of artistically crafted sagemono are known from the 17th century. In addition to boxes for tobacco, cases for personal seals (inro) are one of the best-known types. Literally translated, an inro is a basket (ro) containing a seal (in). Only sealed signatures were legally valid, and so samurai and merchants, for example, needing seal stamps had to carry them in small cases. This was the origin of “seal baskets” (inro), which soon came to be used primarily for carrying medicine. These accessories varied in appearance according to the wearer’s taste and wealth, as well as fashion trends. When Western dress became popular during the Meiji period (1868-1912), there was less need for these portable objects, and they were divided up into their constituent parts (with toggles kept apart) and sold to westerners.
(Based on the text for the exhibition catalogue Japan. Artefacts and images tell the story. 2011).
The function of the netsuke item is to be a counterweight to the "hanging things" (sagemono) worn with the kimono by the men. Common hanging items were various boxes, for example medicine boxes (inro) and tobacco pouches. Netsuke roughly means "fixed root" and early netsuke (before the late 17th century) were probably natural, unprocessed roots and the like. From the 18th century they were made more representative and often in wood or ivory. Eventually, the artists began to sign their netsuke.
(Based on the text for the exhibition Japan. Artefacts and images tell the story. 2011). /PH
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