Netsuke / Antique miniature curving #4862

- tall: approx. 10.5cm (4 9⁄64in)

- weight: 10g

- material: antler

Netsuke is a traditional Japanese miniature carving in bone or wood. In the Edo era (1603-1861), they were used as toggles on clothing. Townsmen used them to hang crafted pill cases called "Inro" by cords from their Obi (cloth kimono belt) as their kimonos didn't have pockets. Netsuke come in many shapes, such as animals, birds, fish, clams, masks, ghosts, humans, spheres, and so on. They all are high quality art. Specifically, old netsuke with a patina (natural aged color) are extremely valuable. One old house-shaped netsuke made by artist Tadatomo was sold for $260,000 in a famous auction at Sotheby's London in May 1990. Today, the art lives on, and some modern works can command high prices in the UK, Europe, the USA, Japan and elsewhere.