{"object":[{"sourceId":{"label":"Source ID","value":"37334"},"creditline":{"label":"Credit Line","value":"Bequest of Carl A. Kroch, Class of 1935"},"labelText":{"label":"More Information","value":"BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis is a netsuke carved in the form of a rat with a peapod.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This netsuke was made in Japan.HOW WAS IT MADE?Netsuke made from ivory, like this one, were hand-carved with knives, chisels and files of different sizes. The rat\u2019s eyes are made from horn.HOW WAS IT USED?During the Edo period (1603-1868), the standard attire for a well-dressed Japanese man consisted of a kimono tied with a sash. Because kimonos had no pockets, accessory bags and carrying cases (called sagemono: hanging things) were used to hold personal items such as money, medicines, tobacco and seals (a stamp carved with the owner\u2019s name). Silken cords, attached to the sagemono, were threaded through the kimono sash (obi). A toggle, called a netsuke, was attached to the other end of the cord to prevent it from slipping through the sash. To see a netsuke with an inro\u2014one popular type of sagemono that consisted of small, stacked compartments for holding medicines\u2014search for object number 98.087.006 in the keyword search box.The term netsuke comes from the words ne, meaning \u2018root\u2019 and tsuke, meaning \u2018to fasten.\u2019 Early netsuke may have been made from found objects such as pieces of roots, nuts, coral and bone. Over time, netsuke production became more and more varied, refined, and innovative, reaching a high point in the early 19th century. Subjects and decoration of netsuke and sagemono reflected the tastes and aspirations of their owners, often infused with an element of comic irony. As clothing traditions modernized, netsuke came to be collected separately from sagemono, and appreciated as sculptural gems in their own right.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?The Chinese calendar follows a sixty-year cycle, broken into five twelve-year units. Each of the twelve years is associated with an animal. The day is also divided into twelve periods, each associated with one of the twelve animals. The animals associated with the year and the hour of one\u2019s birth have long been used in some Asian countries to predict one\u2019s character and personality traits. The animals of the zodiac became popular subjects for netsuke during the 19th century, as people became interested in purchasing netsuke depicting the animal associated with their birth year, as well as building collections of all twelve animals. The twelve animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.The rat is associated with the harvest and with bounty\u2014according to Japanese legend, it is the messenger of the god of grain, Daikoku. The rat is often shown with something edible, in this case, a pea pod. In the zodiac, the rat is associated with qualities such as tenacity, meticulousness, and industriousness.To see other netsuke that depict rats in the Johnson Museum\u2019s collection, search for object numbers 89.029.008, 99.089.018, 99.089.045, and 99.089.054 in the keyword search box."},"invno":{"label":"Object number","value":"99.089.048"},"description":{"label":"Description","value":"A rat stands on a pea pod on his two front paws and left hind paw. Contrast of texture is apparent between the finely rendered fur and the smooth surface of the pod. Ink is rubbed into the fine incisions to enhance texture. Ears are pushed back, tail is wrapped around and underneath its body. Signature reading \"Masatami\" on the underside."},"medium":{"label":"Medium","value":"Carved ivory and horn"},"onview":{"label":"On View","value":"0"},"media":{"label":"Media","value":"99.089.048_Disc0412_04126018"},"title":{"label":"Title","value":"Rat and peapod"},"classification":{"label":"Classifications","value":"Costume"},"people":{"label":"Artist / Maker / Culture","value":"Unidentified artist"},"primaryMedia":{"value":"https://emuseum.cornell.edu/internal/media/dispatcher/77809/full"},"culture":{"label":"Culture","value":"Japan"},"displayDate":{"label":"Date","value":"19th century"},"id":{"label":"Id","value":"201493"},"dimensions":{"label":"Dimensions","value":"7/8 x 1 3/16 x 1 9/16 inches (2.2 x 3 x 4 cm)"}}]}