Japanese Ivorine Netsuke Carp Signed 19th

Carved Japanese Ivorine Netsuke
Four Entwined Carved Carp With Applied Eyes 
Circa 1920
Signed to base
4cm

The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. Above all, they had to have the means for attaching a cord. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori(shape carving), a three-dimensional carving.