SARU MASK #1.

Step 1. Creating a shape from a sketch.

Nakamura Tokisada (Masatoshi) carving wood netsuke.

This video is the unique opportunity to see the entire process of creating netsuke from the great master of the 20th century Nakamura Tokisada (Masatoshi).

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 1

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 2

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 3

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 4

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 5

Masatoshi Carving Wood Part 6

HARE (in ittobori style)

Wood, 3.7x2.3 cm. Black tortoise shell inlays.

4. HARE - work in progress.

The eyes are made of black armor segment turtles and stick using epoxy. After drying, I soak figure using linseed oil, rubbing it in wood surface in several stages. Netsuke ready!

Ittobori Netsuke:

Ittobori refers to the method or manner in which the netsuke are carved, with one movement of the carving tool, instead of carving in many different areas; and using two tone Korean Matsu pine wood.

The Ittobori style was invented by Sukenaga and enhanced by Matsuda, which consisted of using simple straight cuts in two-toned chosen Matsu (Korean pine wood) ...

Itto-bori started in 1137, when carvers decorated the dance stage of Kasuga Grand Shrine's annual Wakamiya On-matsuri Festival with carved wooden dolls. Since then, they have made newly carved decorations for the festival every year. Until the mid Edo period, Itto-bori carving was used only for sacred festivals and ceremonies. Later it flourished through the efforts of the late Edo-period craftsman Toen Morikawa (1821-1896) as objects of art available for general public throughout the country.

3. HARE - work in progress.

Next, I brought the figure up to the final state, and paint over it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

2. HARE - work in progress.

Then I drilled himotoshi (only at this stage, to save time and achieve the best results, I used a drill.)

1. HARE - work in progress.

My next netsuke I decided to make using ittobori technique (‘carving with a single knife-stroke’). This technique used simple, broad carving strokes instead of the more usual complex and intricate type of carving.
The best material, in my wood arsenal, is the apple tree wood.

1. First, I made a rough model of a rabbit using only one tool.

Hawaii Five-O. Season 8, episode 14 - "Wooden Model of a Rat".

August March, a seemingly respectable businessman who is also an art collector, has been running a smuggling ring of Asian art. When he discovers McGarrett is also a collector of small Asian sculptures, March arranges for a stolen piece of art from Japan to be substituted for McGarrett's collection, which is about to go on display in a Honolulu museum. March sees this an opportunity to frame the lawman who could smash his operation. But McGarrett, despite all odds, moves to trap his opponent.

https://youtu.be/ob_Fp0wmTNQ