M0004166: Four ivory Japanese Netsuke

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Dr. Gunther's Collection of Ivory Netsuk's, Japanese.

Photograph of four carved ivory Netsuke. One is of a lady cutting her toenails, one is of a midwife bathing a child, one is of a man having his ear cleaned by a child and the other is of seven blind men touch an elephant. Netsuke are ornaments worn with a Kimono. The Netsuke is tied a silk bag hidden behind the sash for belongings. They were especially popular during the Tokugawa period (1603–1868) and are seen by many as fine works of miniature art. These Netsuke are from Doctor Hermann Gunther's collection of Netsuke held by the History of Science Museum (inventory numbers 48164, 39204, 55621 and 37473).

1 February 1935

1 photograph glass plate negative; 16.5 x 21.5 cm

Catalogue data comes from a combination of entries in the original glass plate registers, metadata created when the glass plates were digitised in the early 2000s and enhancements made by the cataloguer in 2021.

This item is fragile. Email library@wellcomecollection.org to request access to the physical item.