netsuke

American  

[net-skee, -skey, ne-tsoo-ke] / ˈnɛt ski, -skeɪ, ˈnɛ tsʊˈkɛ /

noun

1. (in Japanese art) a small figure of ivory, wood, metal, or ceramic, originally used as a buttonlike fixture on a man's sash, from which small personal belongings were hung.

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netsuke British  

/ ˈnɛtsʊkɪ /

noun

1. (in Japan) a carved toggle, esp of wood or ivory, originally used to tether a medicine box, purse, etc, worn dangling from the waist

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Etymology

Origin of netsuke

1880–85; < Japanese, equivalent to ne root + tsuke (earlier tuke ( y ) attach

Example Sentences

When Mr. de Waal, a British ceramicist, inherited 264 of these netsuke from a relative in the 1990s, he became fascinated by their artistry—and their provenance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

All that survived intact of the family’s former treasures were the netsuke, which were smuggled out of the family’s mansion by a loyal maid and returned to the family after the war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Only the netsuke were salvaged, hidden away in a straw mattress by a maid who managed to return them to the family after the war.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2022

Charles later gave the netsuke as a wedding present to a cousin living in Vienna.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2022

In addition to his tsubas and prints, Willy had a collection of so-called netsuke, some in boxwood, some in ivory, small, dice-like carvings, representing with remarkable animation all sorts of real and fantastic scenes.

From Atlantis by Seltzer, Adele Szold