M0004137EA: Netsuke of a blindman playing a xylophone (mokkin) / M0004137EB: Netsuke of a blindman lifting a stone

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Blindman playing xylophone, wood with ivory detail.

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Wood blindman, unclothed, lifting dough.

Photograph of two Netsuke, one of a blindman playing a xylophone (also known as a Mokkin), made from wood with ivory detail, and the other of a blindman lifting a stone, created by Ho-gyoku in 19th century Japan. Netsuke are ornaments worn with a Kimono. The Netsuke is tied a silk bag hidden behind the sash for belongings. They were especially popular during the Tokugawa period (1603–1868) and are seen by many as fine works of miniature art. These Netsuke are from Doctor Hermann Gunther's collection of Netsuke, now held by the History of Science Museum, Oxford

January 1935

1 photograph glass plate negative; 12 x 16 cm

The original object can be found at the History of Science Museum under the inventory number 36946

Copyright is held by Wellcome Collection

Catalogue data comes from a combination of entries in the original glass plate registers, metadata created when the glass plates were digitised in the early 2000s and enhancements made by the cataloguer in 2021.

Please consult the digitised version as this item is fragile. Email library@wellcomecollection.org to request access to the physical item.