KNYSNA NEWS - On Thursday 26 October at 09:00 the doors of Brenton-on-Sea community hall will open for all to attend the general meeting of the Knysna U3A.
Retired professor Peter Harris will give us a presentation on netsuke, the Japanese speciality of carved items.
This intriguing subject has been a passion for Peter and he has an amazing collection which he will share during his presentation. For a period of about 300 years netsuke were used in old Japan.
As the standard dress in Japan over that period was the kimono, which had no pockets, small toggles – called netsuke – were used to attach objects of daily use to the belt.
Initially, a simple stick or bone was attached by a cord to the seal or medicine box and was tucked underneath the belt.
At a later period the aristocracy started to decorate these little boxes and their toggles and, when tobacco was introduced in the 18th century, males of all classes of society used these carved netsuke to hold the tobacco boxes, flints and pipe holders.
The introduction of cigarettes and Western dress with pockets in the late 19th century led to the demise of the netsuke as a functional object.
This talk will discuss the materials and the stories and legends used by the carvers as the subject matter of these little toggles.
The meeting starts at 10:00 but tea, coffee and biscuits will be served from 09:00. Members of U3A pay R5 and nonmembers R10 towards the hire of the hall.
Enquiries: Judy Dixon 072 390 6667
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