19th Century Japanese Carved boxwood Baku netsuke

Description: 19th Century Japanese Carved boxwood Baku netsuke. Signed as shown, 2 1/8" tall
x 1 1/8" wide with no damage and minimal wear

A netsuke (根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century
Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inrō box,
netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Traditionally, Japanese clothing – first the kosode and its later evolution, the
kimono – did not have pockets. Though the sleeves of the kimono could be used to
store small items, the men who wore kimono needed a larger and stronger
container in which to store personal belongings, such as s, , money and seals,
resulting in the development of containers known as sagemono, which were hung by
cords from the robes' sashes (obi).

These containers may have been pouches or small woven baskets, but the most
popular were crafted boxes (inrō) held shut by ojime, sliding beads on cords.
Whatever the form of the container, the fastener which secured the cord at the
top of the sash was a carved, button-like toggle called a netsuke. Netsuke, like
inrō and ojime, evolved over time from being strictly utilitarian into objects
of great artistic merit and an expression of extraordinary craftsmanship.
Netsuke production was most popular during the Edo period (1603–1867).

Netsuke and inrō declined as Japanese clothes were gradually westernized from
the Meiji period (1868–1912). Because of their popularity amongst Western
collectors at the time, some of the greatest collections are now found outside
of Japan