M0004142EA: Netsuke of blind lutist, with Biwa in bag a slung over shoulder / M0004142EB: Netsuke of blind man lifting a round object

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Wood strolling blind lutist, Biwa in bag slung over shoulder.

Previous title, replaced May 2020: Wood blindman lifting lump of dough, signed Hogyoku.

Photograph of two wooden Netsuke. One is of a strolling blind lutist, with a Biwa (Japanese instrument) in bag slung over shoulder. He appoears to have a cyst on the right side of the top of his head. The other is of a blind man lifting a round object. 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. The first one can be found at the History of Science Museum under the inventory number 49551.

January 1935

1 photograph glass plate negative; 12 x 16 cm

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.