Japanese netsuke
- Audio guide stop: 596
- Gallery: Room 93
- Culture: Edo Period
- Made in: Japan
- Date: 1780 (about)
- Object type: netsuke
- Materials: wood
- Museum number: HG.11
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is a netsuke, a tiny but intricate sculpture from Japan’s Edo Period, around 1780. In your view is a carved wood scene showing two legendary fishermen, Ashinaga and Tenaga, locked in a lively tangle with an octopus. The octopus has a firm grip on Ashinaga, creating a lively moment of tension. Netsuke like this were once used as ornamental toggles for hanging small containers called inro.
The sculpture captures a dynamic composition, carved with smooth, flowing shapes that bring the story to life. It measures about 13 centimeters, a compact size that highlights the skill needed to create such a detailed scene.
This netsuke was donated by Prof. John and Anne Hull Grundy, who contributed many Japanese items to the collection.
See it in person
Japanese netsuke is on display in Room 93 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 596, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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