Necklace of Four Interchangeable Netsuke Beads

Jaclyn Davidson, Necklace of Four Interchangeable Netsuke Beads, 1975, cast, soldered, engraved, oxidized and buffed silver, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.149
Copied Jaclyn Davidson, Necklace of Four Interchangeable Netsuke Beads, 1975, cast, soldered, engraved, oxidized and buffed silver, length: 16 1⁄2 in. (41.9 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.149

Artwork Details

Title
Necklace of Four Interchangeable Netsuke Beads
Artist
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
length: 16 1⁄2 in. (41.9 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
cast, soldered, engraved, oxidized and buffed silver
Classifications
Object Number
1975.149
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1975.149

Artwork Description

Netsuke (pronounced “netskeh”) were functional accessories to Japanese kimonos. A kimono did not have pockets, so the wearer carried a small box or pouch attached to a silk cord. The cord was strung through the obi (the belt-like sash of the kimono), and the netsuke provided counterweight so that the pouch could hang and be easily removed. Netsuke were often made of ivory or wood and inscribed with stories from Buddhist legends. Our Necklace translates the form to silver and creates a link between Japanese and Western traditions.