Netsuke, wood. Japan, late 19th cent.
The powerfully structured leaf forms a flat base. Arranged upon it are the rat and two round fruits on stems. The rat has black inlaid eyes, clutches the leaf stem with its front paws, which also serves as cord channel. Carefully, even with elegant buoyancy, carved fur pattern, which indicates experienced mastership. Black-brown coloring, a minor flaw on notched leaf rand. The rat is No.1 in the zodiac and the symbolic animal of the god of fortune Daikoku.
LENGTH 4,7 CM
From a German collection