An ivory and black horn netsuke of a Dutchman
Late 19th/20th century
Carved as a Dutchman with a wide-brimmed hat with a plume on the back, wearing a short coat with Chinese decoration and horn buttons, blowing a trumpet held in his left hand and fan(?) in his right hand.
H. 5.5 cm
Next to birds, mainly cockerels, game, and small dogs, trumpets are a common attribute in netsuke of Dutchmen. This instrument was not an Edo period Japanese instrument but resembles a Dutch schalmei, a woodwind instrument which widens towards the end and probably was as exotic in the eyes of the Japanese as the clothing and other attributes of the Dutchmen.
Carved as a Dutchman with a wide-brimmed hat with a plume on the back, wearing a short coat with Chinese decoration and horn buttons, blowing a trumpet held in his left hand and fan(?) in his right hand.
H. 5.5 cm
Next to birds, mainly cockerels, game, and small dogs, trumpets are a common attribute in netsuke of Dutchmen. This instrument was not an Edo period Japanese instrument but resembles a Dutch schalmei, a woodwind instrument which widens towards the end and probably was as exotic in the eyes of the Japanese as the clothing and other attributes of the Dutchmen.
