Netsuke "Corbicula Gatherer" 蜆採木彫根付

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This 3 cm tall netsuke on display at the Tokyo National Museum depicts a corbicula gatherer; it was carved from wood in the 19th century by an unknown artist named Ryukei.

A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono. (Source: Lexico)

The thing is, he doesn't look like a clam gatherer to me at all, but rather a man on his knees scrubbing the floor with a cloth—in other words, my late paternal grandfather!

The grandfather was the youngest of more than ten siblings, so he was adopted by relatives—a common practice back then when large families would send a son to live with childless relatives. Preserving the family line and making sure someone—usually the eldest son, or the eldest daughter if there were no sons—took care of the family grave was, and still is, very important in Japan. He was adopted in accordance with this Japanese tradition.

He was a diligent and kind man, but he completely surprised my mom whenever she visited her fiancé's (my dad's) house. Even though my grandpa had become a successful businessman and bought a beautiful home he was incredibly proud of, he would still get down on his hands and knees to clean the floors with a cloth, just like this corbicula gatherer. He truly loved that house. 😆  

If you love netsuke, check out the posts below the photos!

"Corbicula gatherer," Ryukei in the 19th century, wood 蜆採木彫根付 龍珪 木製

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東京国立博物館の蜆採木彫根付。龍珪作です。シジミ採ってるように見えますか？私には雑巾がけしている男性にしか見えない｡｡｡ 

雑巾がけと言えば思い出すのは父方の祖父。家の廊下をしょっちゅう雑巾がけしていたそうで、婚約して父の家に初めて行ってそれを見た母はびっくり！祖父はたくさんいる兄弟の末っ子で養子にもらわれ、商売で成功してその家を買ったそうです。きっと自慢のおうちだったんだと思います。

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