Netsuke in form of women giving birth

Made:
1701-1900 in Japan
Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Wooden netsuke, in the form of two women, one is helping the other to give birth and the head of the baby is visible, Japanese, 1701-1900

This small wooden netsuke shows a woman assisting another woman in labour. The head of the baby is visible. Until recently, women were traditionally the main birthing assistants across all cultures. They often had little formal medical training. Women are still the main birthing assistants in much of the world today.

Netsuke are toggle-like ornaments. They hang objects such as medicine boxes or tobacco pouches from the sash of a kimono - a traditional Japanese dress. Netsuke are usually made from wood and ivory and are highly collectable.

Details

Category:
Asian Medicine
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A641101
Materials:
wood (unidentified) and complete
Measurements:
overall: 33 mm x 35 mm x 20 mm, .005kg
type:
netsuke