Just Dandy: Japanese Gentlemen’s accessories

-Eugene & Susan Tosk Collection-

Japanese men of Edo Meiji periods were incredibly fashionable. Townsmen collected and enjoyed their personal accessories of netsuke, inro, ojime beads, pipes, pipe cases and samurai decorated their precious swords with metal and/ or lacquer fittings of tsuba (sword guards), kozuka (utility knives), kogai, fuchi-kashira (pommel and butt) and menuki. Wealthy men ordered their favorite subjects and special items for official occasions from master artists. The craftsmanship on these small materials were amazing.

After Commodore Perry reached the closed country of Tokugawa shogunate, Japanese quickly assimilated to western lifestyles. Men and women started to dress in western fashion and the traditional culture was somewhat diminished. These days, it is almost forgotten and unknown to some of the young generations.

In the personal collection of Eugene and Susan Tosk (New York), we show beautiful miniature sculptures: netsuke, functional small cases of inro (compartmented medicine or seal case) or pouches and other paraphernalia to smoking sets which adorned their sashes. They started collecting in the late 1960’s and were experts and avid collectors of Japanese art. This exhibition demonstrates personal items for men with wit and taste, showing Japanese tradition and culture.

Show items
Netsuke – by carvers indulging Miwa, Ittan, Masanao, Tokoku, Kokoku Guy Show, Nakamura Masatoshi including manju netsuke, kagamibuta netsuke, mask netsuke, Inro – including lacquer inro, metal inro, miniature inro (sleeve type), Ojime, Tobacco pouches and Tonkotsu, Pipes, Pipe cases

Sword fittings
Tsuba, Fuchi-Kashira, Kozuka/kogai, menuki, kanagu, sash metal piece

Other items of interests
Chain pouches, leather glasses case, tortoise, Shell comb, wood razor case, enamel/metal cuff links, silver cigarette cases

Period: January 25 (Thu) – February 21 (Wed), 2018
Hours:10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Monday – Friday)
10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Saturday)
Contact: Tel: 212-581-2223

Organized by The Nippon Club
Sponsored by JCC Fund (Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of New York, Inc.)

Supported by Consulate General of Japan in New York, The Japan Foundation, New York

Guest Curator: Sachiko Hori