Netsuke of a pumpkin, carved wood, signed Ikkan, ca. 1850 - 1900
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1850-1900
This carved and stained wood netsuke is in the form of a pumpkin. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori (shape carving), a three-dimensional carving, such as this one in the form of a pumpkin.
This example is signed ‘Ikkan’, a netsuke-carver from the regional centre of Nagoya. A line of netsuke carvers in this area stemmed from the artist Tomokazu, and all its members made use of the character meaning ‘one’. Takaoka Ikkan was one of the greatest netsuke carvers of Nagoya. He was also the younger brother of the head priest of Kyosenji Temple, a minor branch temple in Nagoya. When the temple fell on hard times, he was obliged to earn his living as a Buddhist sculptor and netsuke carver.
This netsuke of a pumpkin looks deceptively simple. Great skill was needed to portray its form and texture realistically.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Height 4.29 cm
- Materials and techniques
- Carved wood
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Japan
Identification
- Candidate id
- vam-O90657
- Museum object number
- A.1001-1910
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked single-object source. Wider type attribution and authenticity have not been independently verified.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type and source attribution against specialist references.