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These laquered wood containers, called sagemono, would be suspended from the sash, obi, and might contain money, seals, tobacco, medicines and other important items. They were kept from falling down by the carved figure, called netsuke, at the end of a cord. Just a small sample here of what's in the SF Asian Art museum. |
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| The sagemono on the left shows a dancer who might be representing the horse headed celestial musician, and is reflected in the carved bone or ivory netsuke figurine. The sagemono on the right seems more family oriented. It shows a woman with a baby on her back and a young girl, and the ivory netsuke is a litter of cuddly puppies. |
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This owner was definitely into the zen of fishing |
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| A beautiful sagemono depicting a tea set, a shoji screen, and the ivory netsuke is tea leaves. The tea ceremony in Japan is of great importance. |
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| I had to work this one to bring the details out. It shows a great composition of three black birds in front of the full moon. |
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The SF Asian Art Museum
