Our antique carved wood, or nut, netsuke on its original woven box cord portrays a Chinese boy at play. A netsuke is a toggle used in traditional Japanese dress to secure a small sectional box, or inro, made to hold small personal items such as pens or pipes. Our example retains its small ojime, or sliding bead, on the cord which kept the sections of the inro, now missing, from separating. These three-part accessories first appeared in 17th century Japan; initially simple in form and materials, they were a practical solution to the absence of pockets in kimonos. Beauty and utility, however, are never strangers for long in Japanese culture and by the 18th century these utilitarian items often evolved into small masterpieces of the carvers’ and enameler’s art. Our humorous example in the Chinese style is probably 19th century. Doubling the cord makes an attractive necklace. Condition: Very good. Dimensions: Netsuke, 1.5". Cord, 17".