Fine Wood Netsuke of a Dutch Cloth Trader, Signed ‘Shugetsu’

In the 18th century, Dutch traders were the only Europeans allowed in Japan and then they were confined to the man-made island of Dejima in Nagasaki Harbour. They did arouse much interest among the Japanese however, given their status as the only non-Asians permitted in Japan.

This beautiful and well-carved boxwood netsuke of a Dutchman is well observed and has the most splendid patina. The man wears a frock coat, pantaloons, a wide, brimmed hat, and enclosed shoes reminiscent of clogs. The lower part of his coat is engraved with decorative swirls.

He clutches cloth in one hand, and a large pair of clothmaker’s scissors in the other – suggesting that this Dutchman has come to trade cloth. Indeed, the trade in cloth was one of the main preoccupations of the Dutch in Japan in the 18th century. Dutch traders were responsible for importing large quantities of Indian chintz and Gujarati kalamkari into Japan. They also introduced the Japanese to batik from Java and Sumatra.

The reverse has been drilled with the necessary holes to allow the small sculpture to function as a netsuke – initially, netsuke were intended as a button fastener on the cords of an inrō box.

The example here is signed, finely, on the underside of the right foot, with 舟月 or ‘Shugetsu’, a netsuke carver and doll maker, who worked in Osaka and Edo, and was active 1764-1772.

Other examples of netsuke carved as Dutchmen are known, but the example here is unusually fine.

See another example of a netsuke of a Dutchman carved from wood, in the British Museum and illustrated in Watson (1981, p. 313). And one of a foreigner at Bonhams in 2016.

The example here has a wonderful colour, smoothness and patina. It is among the better examples of carved Dutchmen, if not the best, and is in perfect condition.