John N. Cohen A past director of Jacey Cinemas Ltd. Later the proprietor of a design & photographic studio, now a director of Jacey Homes Ltd., a property development company. Interests and Hobbies: A top international award winning photographer who also became a well known Asian antiques collector and an enthusiast of Jensen British classic cars. Other interests are skiing and Salsa dancing.
For John’s other interests please have a look at: - http://www.jncohen.net
The author has been a very keen collector for many years in helping to create ‘The Cohen collection’. To see more articles with photographs please click on the following link: http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm
When collecting Japanese netsuke most of the true antique netsuke, as against lots of modern copies, will normally have two connecting cord holes (known as himotoshi), but one will be much larger than the other!
The netsuke was a handling piece, that was on a cord to a compartment (Sagemono), often this was an inro (a case of several compartments), that was kept closed by a corded bead (ojime) between the inro and the netsuke. The kimono had no pockets so the inro was worn hanging from the kimono sash (obi); the netsuke was then, pushed up under the sash, thus trapping and holding the Sagemono in place.
The reason for the larger hole in the netsuke was that once the cord had been threaded through the inro (or Sagemono) and ojime (the netsuke would then have been threaded on last) it was possible to completely hide the one and only cord knot inside the larger hole.
So the way the smaller hole connected to the larger hole was very well formed providing a smooth curved link that was easy to thread the cord through. Often the larger hole was hollowed out even more, under the surface, in order to provide plenty of space for the knot.
The Manju, often used instead of a netsuke, also had plenty of space to hide the knot within the opening of the two sections.
In my personal view, although there are some very fine netsuke that relied on being threaded through a tail, or a leg, instead of having the usual himotoshi, there was then quite a disadvantage in use, as there was no longer anyway of concealing the cord knot.
Another important factor is the position of such himotoshi, they were always placed so that, as the cord hangs down, the netsuke carving is presented attractively and the right way up. But, these cord holes were also placed in such a way that they did not detract from any of the detailed carving.
Many of the poor quality later netsuke (these were never used, but were really made simply to cash in, on the increasing value of netsuke) are often easy to spot. When inspecting a netsuke if the two holes are of equal size and poorly formed (often these are just two drilled holes angled to meet each other) then you can be sure this is not a good netsuke!
Sadly one can no longer just rely on judging the himotoshi to identify a modern copy, as some now do have smaller and larger holes, especially the recent resin copies of netsuke.
- Related Articles
- Related Q&A
- Netsuke Cord Holes (himotoshi)
- How To Properly Clean And Maintain Your Antique Tapestry
- Antique Drawer Pulls - Put Some Sparkle In The Bedroom
- What to Do With Your Waltham! a Short History and Some Antique Watch Repair Tips!
- Useful Tips Before Buying Antique Furniture
- Why Antique Dolls are Popular Collectible Items
- Guide to Antique Bedroom Furniture
- Antique Chinese Snuff Bottles – Heavy Stones That Really Float!
Agra – The City of Monuments
By: Ethan Hill | 12/11/2009The city of agra has a rich heritage and this gives an insight on how the city is and why it so much famous.
Frbiz.com reports 3G mobile phones as a 2G Sell: buffer or setback
By: xt | 12/11/20093G mobile phones as a 2G Sell: buffer or setback
The Top 5 Tips for Buying Shoes Online
By: aaryn | 11/11/2009Here I will give a good ways more. Before you buy shoes online, you can find a similar shoe at a nearby store and try it on. Then you will know exactly what you're looking for, then finding the best deal on the website.
Ching Te Chenng , The Capital of Porcelain
By: reelgrass | 10/11/2009Introduction of city of Ching Te Cheng,China, histroy of Chinese Porcelain.
power leveling- not smooth
By: selina | 05/11/2009cannot compare with to die after the MT butterfly under the NF roll call, he still calms down of control a whole field of situation, two in time repairing of the T marmots, treatment of
Antiques
By: Peter Gitundu | 03/11/2009The word antique, comes from a Latin word meaning old collectible item, normally collected due to its age, rarity, utility or other such unique features. This term is used to imply something that is out of age. These items are normally bought in shops that particularly sell them.
The women’s shoes
By: aaryn | 31/10/2009Women always have a fascination with shoes. They love stocking up on various kinds of shoes to match their various outfits.
wow account-Dog 1234
By: wowaccount2 | 31/10/2009dog in the house compares with mankind to carnivorous have endurance more of dint, they can't because of in great quantities edible meat but contract to jam such as the artery of the metabolism disease of type.
Asian Antiques & the Economic Crisis
By: John N. Cohen | 01/12/2008 | InvestingAsian antiques are still breaking records in the auction rooms, despite the current economic crisis, also explaining why this is, as well as providing guidance for new collectors.
How Best to Begin Buying Antiques in Auction or From Dealers
By: John N. Cohen | 06/04/2008 | AntiquesSome personal guidance on how to begin buying antiques from dealers, or in the auction room, as a collector. Some valuable insights not generally known, that will equally apply to all types of antique collecting.
All About Japanese Lacquer and Exquisite Sprinkled Pictures
By: John N. Cohen | 06/04/2008 | AntiquesAll about how beautiful Japanese lacquer, found in 18th & 19th century works of art where exquisite pictures were formed, surprisingly, by sprinkling techniques rather than being painted.
Collecting Chinese Snuff Bottles – Magical Stone Pictures!
By: John N. Cohen | 06/04/2008 | AntiquesValuable and useful guidance for potential collectors of snuff bottles and all about the amazing use of natural flaws found in stones to create beautiful pictures on the surface of snuff bottles.
The Advantages of Specialising and Only Collecting the Finest Antiques!
By: John N. Cohen | 06/04/2008 | AntiquesOwning just one or two superb pieces has always been worth very much more, than having twenty, or more, indifferent ones, but there are other, not so obvious advantages, such as the protection against burglars.
Antique Chinese Snuff Bottles – Heavy Stones That Really Float!
By: John N. Cohen | 04/04/2008 | AntiquesAll about antique hard stone Chinese snuff bottles that are described as well hollowed out and the most amazing stone snuff bottles that are so wonderfully hollowed out, that they will float in water. Valuable guidance for potential collectors of snuff bottles
Netsuke Cord Holes (himotoshi)
By: John N. Cohen | 04/04/2008 | AntiquesAbout inspecting antique netsuke, detailing the reason for different sized netsuke cord holes and how they should be positioned. One way of recognising a poor quality modern netsuke. Informative for any new netsuke collectors.