Ants and Rain Drops

This netsuke is a vivid example of material and subject merging into one. The entire composition is built around the bustling life of an ant colony.
​The Ant (Ari) is a Japanese symbol of incredible diligence, order, perseverance, and selfless collective effort. In this scene, we witness an entire community absorbed in its timeless labor. I integrated the wood’s natural dark inclusions and defects, which are not hidden but instead become an essential part of the anthill, lending it an organic, earthen texture. But this scene of orderly work is dramatically interrupted. The polished wooden surface is struck by silver “blots”—the first drops of an impending rain. They introduce a powerful element of drama and suddenness, catching the colony by surprise. It is a frozen moment of tension: a collision between the meticulous, orderly world of the insects and the unpredictable, overwhelming power of nature.

akamakie on Kiji-nuri ground, this ground was done on the carved wooden surface with Seshime Urushi, Roiro-Urushi and Kanshitsu. There are silver Hiramefun and “drops of rain” done with silver Marufun. The Ants were done with Ikkaki-Urushi, colored with Kuro-nakanuri Urushi and pink mother-of-pearl for wings of queen, small stones and pieces of dried grasses were covered with Keshifun gold. The size of this Manju netsuke is 5.2 cm across, 1.2 cm thick. Ojime was done in the same way. The cord was handmade.

2021. Portugal, private collection.