'Hidden Treasures of Japanese Art' at the SA Jewish Museum
Japanese art is perhaps more familiar in contemporary culture in the form of animation (anime) or Japanese cartoons called manga. But a much older form of miniature sculptures, called netsuke, has over the past century become sought-after by collectors internationally. Capetonians are being treated to a rare glimpse of these treasures courtesy of a new exhibition at the SA Jewish Museum.
Isaac Kaplan, one of the founders of the Jewish Museum, began collecting Japanese artworks over 50 years ago. His collection of over 600 works is regarded as one of the largest and most noted worldwide and this exhibition of about 200 pieces is drawn from it.
'Hidden Treasures of Japanese Art' is an intimate viewing experience in a small exhibition room entirely suited to the content. First up are the diminutive netsuke (pronounced 'net-skay') works in their wall-length cabinet. They demand close scrutiny to reveal intricate detail and masterful forms.
These miniature ceremonial carvings were worn by the newly affluent merchant classes during the time of the Samurai. They served as belt toggles to hold containers for tobacco, money and other objects that would be carried on the cloth belt or girdle, as the kimono had no pockets.
They were functional but also served aesthetic purposes and were regarded as expressions of both the artist and the wearer. The netsuke, with the kimono sash (obi) and a sliding bead (ojime), together formed a kind of removable hip pocket. They were all made with consummate skill and often elaborately decorated with carving, lacquer and exotic materials including ivory and often linked thematically.
One striking piece is a netsuke of a pine cone with a stalk, which opens to reveal on one side an old couple. They sweep pine needles with a broom and a rake. On the other side of the opened cone, a 1000-year old turtle (minogame) and crane are carved beneath a pine tree. Jo and Uba in Pine Cone is carved from ivory and stands only 4.2 cm high. The legendary couple was a symbol of the eternal quest for immortality.
Equally intriguing is Shichifukujin, a netsuke of a peach carved out of boxwood that opens to reveal the stone inside. A miniature carved scene of seven figures in a circle, probably the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, are visible through an aperture in the stone. The skill is remarkable - all the more so considering it is only a few centimeters tall.
Flora and fauna feature strongly. Netsuke of a seated deer howling at the moon stands 9.7 cm in height, carved in the Edo period from ivory with dark horn inlaid for eyes. Deer were considered charms for long life. Seven Rats, curled in a ball, are the first sign of the zodiac and this particular carving was probably carried for good luck.
The exhibition has a 'curiosity cabinet' appeal, with the sculptures each displayed in separate compartments like a giant printer's tray. The desire to pick up these treasures and inspect them more closely is strong.
Metalwork and sword fittings are also displayed alongside examples of inro, which is a sectional case or box worn suspended from the obi by a cord on which the netsuke serves as a toggle.
Female Bear and Cubs, for instance, is a small four-case inro with a female bear upright on one side and her cubs playing on the other. The ojime is ivory in the form of an orange, while the netsuke is an ivory model of a seated boy holding in front of him a theatre mask of a male contorted face.
A silver pipe shows a wedding procession of mice, which is a parody on the procession of armed human retainers escorting a bride-to-be to her future home. The mice in the foreground are laid in high relief, while those in the background are in level relief. The detailed craftsmanship is evident.
The exhibition has two very useful touch-screen computers where visitors can get background information and specific details regarding any particular artwork on show. A 300-page catalogue is also available for purchase.
Opened: December 16, 2004
Closes: March 31, 2005
SA Jewish Museum, 88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Tel: (021) 465 1546
Fax: (021) 465 0284
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