Netsuke of Woman Reading from a Scroll

The image depicts a small, intricately carved figurine of a woman reading from a scroll. The woman is sitting cross-legged on the floor with her hair styled in a topknot. She wears a traditional Japanese kimono with a patterned design. Her left hand holds the scroll, while her right hand appears to be unrolling it. The figurine is made of a light-colored material, possibly ivory or wood, and features detailed carvings throughout. The background of the image is a plain gray color.

Artwork details

Date:: 19th century
Medium:: Ivory
Culture:: Japan
Dimensions:: 599 × 425 px
Museum record:: View original

Palette

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Hata Rokurozaemon Disguised as the Samurai's Manservant (Yakko) Igaguri Hanehei (left), and Nakamura Noshio I as the Lady-in-Waiting Koto no Naishi (right), in the Dance Sequence "Sodegasa Momiji no Tekuda" (Umbrella Sleeves: Coquettish Tricks at Maple Time), from the Fourth Act of the Play Hikitsurete Yagoe Taiheiki (The War Tale Taiheiki: With Din and Clamor of Battle), Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776

The Actor Ichikawa Benzo I as Shuntokumaru

Two Women Seated in a Parlor

Nakajima Kanzaemon as a Lord Disguised as a Hunter with a Rifle

Willow-and-Moon Kannon (Yōryū Kannon)

A Sage with Tiger

Immortal Poet

The Actor Onoe Kikugoro I as Ukishima Danjo (?) in the Play Shinasadame Soma no Mombi (?), Performed at the Ichimura Theater (?) in the Seventh Month, 1770 (?)

The Actor Ichikawa Yaozo II as the Boatman Jirosaku in the Play Oyafune Taiheiki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1775

Five Musicians (Gonin bayashi)

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Tezuka no Taro Mitsumori Disguised as the Monkey Trainer Tonkichi Tochibei, in the Play Soga Moyo Aigo no Wakamatsu, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the First Month, 1769

Three Beauties

Girl Riding a Crane (parody of Hi Chobo [Chinese: Fei Zhangfang])

The Heian Court Calligrapher Ono no Tōfū (894–966); “Calligraphy Brush” (Fude), from Four Friends of the Writing Table for the Ichiyō Poetry Circle (Ichiyō-ren Bunbō shiyū) From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 1

The Actor Bando Mitsugoro I as Ogata no Saburo Disguised as Yoroya Takiemon in the Play Mure Takamatsu Yuki no Shirahata, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1780

Oshichi Carrying a Blossoming Cherry Branch

Courtesan Writing a Letter

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo I as Kume no Heinaizaemon Disguised as the Street Fortune-teller Kosaka Jinnai, in the Play Kotobuki Banzei Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Fifth Month, 1783