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Richter Collection of Netsuke

In 1986, the Museum received a generous donation of more than 200 Japanese netsuke and related objects from the collection of William Richter, through a gift of his wife, Margaret Ruth Richter (Class of 1939). Netsuke are utilitarian costume accessories designed to secure a pouch or purse (sagemono) to a belt. The sagemono is suspended from a cord behind the sash of the kimono, and the netsuke is placed at the end of the cord to prevent the sagemono from slipping off.

The unique art of netsuke, which flourished in Japan during the Edo Period (1615–1867) eventually became an outlet for the creative imaginations of the artisans who made them and the owners who wore them. By the late 18th century, the increased demand for netsuke prompted artisans who had formerly concentrated on more traditional art forms to take up the production of these miniature sculptures.

Japanese, Acrobat on drum
Acrobat on drum, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Ashinaga and Tenaga, 18th or 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Ranseki, Badger with lotus leaf hat
Badger with lotus leaf hat, 19th century Ranseki Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Badger with saké cup and jar
Badger with saké cup and jar, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Bat with baby bat
Bat with baby bat, 19th century Unknown Japanese Wood; carved
Bird in the shape of mokugyo, 19th century Hoin Japanese Ivory and black coral (unimatsu); carved with pigment
Japanese, Cleaning the daibutsu
Cleaning the daibutsu, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory, wood, and gold; carved
Masamitsu, Cluster of rats on a leaf
Cluster of rats on a leaf, 19th century Masamitsu Japanese Ivory and black coral (unimatsu); carved with pigment
Japanese, Crouching Tiger
Crouching tiger, 18th century Raku, possibly Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Dog and skull, 19th century Tomochika Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Tomokazu, Dragon holding a tama
Dragon holding a tama, 19th century Tomokazu Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Dutchman holding a bird, 18th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Goat
Goat, 18th century Unknown Japanese Ivory and black coral (unimatsu); carved with pigment
Maker Unknown (Japanese), Inro (three-part container) with lacquer work, 19th century
Inro (three-part container) with lacquer work, 19th century Unknown Japanese Wood, lacquer, and fiber; carved
Kyogen dancer, 19th century Unknown Japanese Wood and ivory; carved with pigment
Meikaku, Egg Examiner
Man examing egg, 20th century Meikaku Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Man sore from riding
Man sore from riding, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Monkey and earthquake fish (namazu)
Monkey and earthquake fish (namazu), 18th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Monkey as a sambaso dancer
Monkey as a sambaso dancer, 18th or 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Monkey on a fan
Monkey on a fan, 18th or 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Monkeys Grooming, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Masanao School, Mother and baby toad
Mother and baby toad, 19th century Masanao School Japanese (1815-1890) Ivory and black coral (unimatsu); carved with pigment
Octopus dressed in kamishimo, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Oni tying treasure bag, 19th century Jusen Japanese Wood; carved with pigment
Portuguese man and griffin, 18th or 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Masamin, Rat and pea pod
Rat and pea pod, 19th century Masamin Japanese Ivory and black coral (unimatsu); carved with pigment
Tomochika, Seiobo with peaches
Seiobo with peaches, 19th century Tomochika Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Shishi with ball
Shishi with ball, 18th century Unknown (style of Shigemasa) Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Shoki and Oni, 19th century Unknown Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Japanese, Story of Sesshu
Story of Sesshū (1421-1507), 19th-20th century Ho (?); Yoshihide (?) Japanese Wood and ivory; carved with polychrome pigments
Mitsu saku and Kakihan, The twelve animals of the zodiac
The twelve animals of the zodiac, 19th century Mitsu saku (made by) and Kakihan Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment
Tomomasa, Two men playing go
Two men playing go, 19th century Tomomasa Japanese Ivory; carved with pigment