Netsuke of Boy Catching a Mouse in a Gourd

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

This netsuke depicts a boy catching a mouse in a gourd, created by an unknown artist. The sculpture is made of a light-colored material, possibly ivory or wood, with darker brown accents. The boy is lying on his back with his head to the right; his left arm is bent at the elbow and his hand is positioned near his face. The boy's right arm is extended to the right, holding a gourd. The gourd is on its side to the left of the boy, with a small opening at the top. A small umbrella is on top of the gourd. The mouse is inside the gourd, with its head and front legs protruding from the opening. The background of the image is a plain light gray color. The lighting is even, with a slight shadow underneath the sculpture.