Netsuke of Bird
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Lacquer with gold painted decoration
Dimensions
H. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm); L. 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm)
Classification
Netsuke
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1913
Accession Number
13.67.30b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Netsuke of Bird* is a masterful example of 19th-century Japanese craftsmanship, likely from the late Edo period (16151868) or earlyiji era (1868–1912). Carved in lacquer and adorned with delicate gold painted decoration, this tiny sculpture measures just 1 1/8 inches high and 1 3/4 inches long—perfectly pocket-sized for its original purpose. The unknown artist captured a lively bird in mid-stride, its feathers and form rendered with intricate precision that belies its miniature scale. Netsuke were essential accessories in traditional Japan, serving as toggles to secure inro po...