It's a small art world
The tiny art form called netsuke offers a glimpse into the vast history of Japan and its early relationship with America. These little sculptures take up very little space at Butler's Maridon Museum, but the inches-high carvings represent one of the museum's most popular exhibits.
The netsuke space at the Maridon, 322 N. McKean St., was recently refurbished with new labels, lower shelves and mirrored backgrounds so visitors can see the intricate pieces from the back as well.
The historical significance of netsuke (pronounced net-skay) is vast, since it is the art form that first introduced Japan to America in the mid 1800s.
"What I find fascinating about netsuke is that they each have a story to tell. They also help explain the intriguing story of the beginning of trade relations between Japan and the United States," said Dixie Lipnichan, a member of Maridon's board of trustees and education committee.
Also a Japanese language and world cultures teacher in the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School District, Lipnichan focused on netsuke for her certification by the National Consortium for the Teaching about Asia.
During a recent NCTA presentation at the Maridon, Lipnichan described how Americans first fell in love with these intricate, sometimes whimsical carvings.
Japanese men, clad in kimonos, had need of a place to store their tobacco, money and other belongings. The solution was an inro, that served the practical function of a wallet. The inro, on a cord was worn draped around the obi, or sash, of the kimono and was held in place by the netsuke.
The pieces were popular in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) and first appeared as early as the 15th century when they were made from gourds and roots. Later, Japanese carved netsuke from wood, ivory and other materials.
The Maridon's netsuke carvings range from 1- to 3-inches high and come in a variety of shapes. Many portray animals and folklore characters.
Lipnichan, along with her Japanese 1 and world cultures students, produced two short videos: one tells the stories behind the netsuke, and the other provides information about netsuke history, types and usage.The videos will be available for public viewing by appointment at the Maridon once they premiere on May 8 at the Maridon's Education Extravaganza. This invitation-only event is part of the Maridon's five-year anniversary celebration.Also available to museum visitors are display boards that were part of Lipnichan's NCTA presentation. The netsuke unit plan that she developed for NCTA will be used as the basis for high school field trip programming for the museum.The story behind America's love of netsuke starts with Commodore Matthew Perry landing his cannon-laden black steamships on Japan's shores in 1853.Since 1603, Japan had been closed to foreigners, except the Dutch. An American accompanying Perry was fascinated by the netsuke worn by the shogunate government's head porter on his tobacco pouch.The encounter sparked a craze among American collectors, including the late Mary Hulton Phillips of Butler, who acquired more than 100 netsuke all part of the Maridon collection.Once the Japanese adopted more Western-style clothes, they no longer placed as much value on netsuke. "Japan sold boxes of netsuke for next to nothing," Lipnichan said. "Americans and Europeans loved them and bought them up. Today, if you want to seriously study netsuke, you have to go to Europe or America."Or Butler.The Maridon Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and students, free for children younger than 8. Call 724-282-0123 for more information.
