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Japanese Carved Wood Netsuke of a Frog, Taisho Period

About the Item

Hand carved boxwood frog netsuke dating from the Meiji period. The frog (kaeru) is associated with luck and wealth in Japanese culture. Kaeru in is a homophone meaning both "frog" and "coming home" in Japanese. This extension of meaning is due to the ability of the frog to return each year to the pond of its birth. This type of netsuke was popular amongst travelers to protect them on their journey and bring them home safe. The word netsuke is formed using the symbol ne (根) meaning “root" and tsuke (付) meaning “attach.” The first netsuke were created in late sixteenth-century Japan as simple button fasteners for pouches and other containers that were hung on the sash (obi 帯) of a kimono. As time progressed, the carving of these small figures became increasingly intricate as netsuke transformed from purely functional objects into fashionable indicators of status. Netsuke commonly depict imagery from nature, myth, and Japanese history. Measures .5" x 1.25" x 1.5" and weighs .4oz (12 grams).
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)Width: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
  • Style:
    Taisho (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Boxwood,Carved,Hand-Carved,Hand-Crafted
  • Place of Origin:
    Japan
  • Period:
    Early 20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1920-30
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Point Richmond, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: GU2571stDibs: LU1778242864912

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