Netsuke in the Form of a Carnivore

Netsuke in the Form of a Carnivore is held by Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe. Museum description: The so-called netsuke, carved from deciduous wood and patinated blackish-brown, depicts a lean predator, probably a wolf, with prominently protruding spine and ribs.

With wide-open mouth and clearly visible teeth, it places its right paw on a human head that still has open eyes and two protruding teeth. The animal's wide-open eyes and pointed canine teeth illustrate the hunger of the ravenous wolf. The natural "himotôshi" (= two interconnected holes for the cord) runs between the legs and the tail. Like all pieces sculpted fully in the round, this example belongs to the type of so-called "katabori-netsuke".

A "netsuke" (pronounced: netske) is a toggle with two holes for cord threading. It was loosely fastened to the Japanese obi (= belt) as a counterpart to a so-called "inro" l The museum record gives measurements height: 3.2 cm, width: 5.25 cm, depth: 3.25 cm. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.