Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs

Japan

Not on view

This realistic design of autumn ivy, a common sight in Japan, is a motif that recalls the episode in Tales of lse (chapt. 9), in which the poet, traveling to the east along a dark and narrow route overgrown with ivy on Mount Utsu, crosses paths with a wandering ascetic returning to the capital to whom he entrusts a poem of love. The ivory netsuke represents a love letter on paper decorated with courtly designs of paulownia and symbols for the chapters of Genji used in incense games

Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs, Ivory, Japan

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs, Ivory, Japan
Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs, Ivory, Japan
Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs, Ivory, Japan
Netsuke Carved in Shape of Folded Letter on Paper Decorated with Court Motifs, Ivory, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.