![Masanao-kyoto-rat-netsuke](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Masanao-kyoto-rat-netsuke.png)
was a noted Japanese sculptor of ''
netsuke
A is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an box, later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.
History
Traditionally, Japanese clothing – ...
'' from the
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
area. He is thus associated with the Kyoto school. His works often depict animals, and he is considered to have been one of the greatest artists working in the ''netsuke'' art form.
Biography
He was mentioned in the ''
Sōken Kishō
A is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an box, later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.
History
Traditionally, Japanese clothing – ...
'' (装劍奇賞), a compilation published in Osaka in 1781 by Inaba Tsūyrū, in which over 50 ''netsuke'' masters are listed. The ''Sōken Kishō'' refers to Masanao as ''skillful and deserving of high praise and recognition''. Nevertheless, nothing is now known about his life and career beyond the fact that he was resident of Kyoto.
Masanao's ability to exquisitely capture animal forms in ever varying poses, often imbued with a vitality which evokes the sense of a moment frozen in time, strongly suggests direct observation from nature.
Frederick Meinertzhagen remarks:
Masanao of Kyoto should not be confused with the series of ''netsuke-shi'' from Ujiyamada, Ise Province (modern day
Ise Ise may refer to:
Places
* Ise, Mie, a city in Japan
**Ise Grand Shrine, a Shinto shrine located in Ise, Mie
* Ise Ekiti, a city in Nigeria
*Ise, Norway, a village in Norway
*Ise Province, an ancient province of Japan
* River Ise, a tributary of th ...
) who carved under the same name (albeit with a different variant of the ''Nao'' kanji in signatures)
See also
*
Gechū
Gechū (牙虫; active 18th century) was a Japanese sculptor. His dates of birth and death are not known.
Biography
Little is known about Gechū's life, he is primarily known through his works, in particular ''netsuke''. He was an Osaka Scho ...
*
Ikkan
Ikkan (一貫) (1817–1893) was one of the most renowned ''netsuke'' artists in Japan during the Edo period. He was from Nagoya, Owari province, central Japan. His pieces can be found in many museum collections and achieve high prices at auction ...
References
External links
* https://collections.lacma.org/node/153811
* https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/search.aspx?people=146074&peoA=146074-2-46
British Museum : Masanao 正直 (Kyoto) (Biographical details)
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Japanese sculptors
18th-century Japanese artists
Netsuke-shi