A finely carved, tinted rat Netsuke, 4 cm tall and very tactile. This Netsuke is one of the 3-item animal series made by the same artist. While we couldn't find a signature on this item, we believe it is made by the same artist as the other 2 from this series. We take our Netsuke collecting very seriously. We strive to acquire the most interesting ones, the most intricately carved, and the Netsuke that have a rich cultural and historical significance. We invite you to take a look at the wild boar netsuke and the rooster netsuke from this animal series - all beautifully carved and worthy of your collection.

Note: This is a unique, hand-carved item. Please look at all photos closely to evaluate its condition as this is the exact item you will receive.

Rats are admired in Japanese culture because they are associated with good luck and prosperity. In Japanese mythology, the rat is considered one of the twelve zodiac animals and is believed to be a symbol of hard work, intelligence, and resourcefulness - like finding food despite hard times.

Netsuke are decorative toggles, traditionally used in Japanese dress to attach pouches and boxes to obis, sashes worn with kimonos. Besides serving a practical purpose of preventing the small item from slipping out of the sash, the netsuke also had an aesthetic and cultural significance as a signifier of personal style and social status.

Typically, netsuke measure one to two inches in size and are carved from a variety of materials, including wood, ivory, bone, metal, and lacquer. They are usually highly detailed and expressive, depicting animals, mythical creatures, or characters from Japanese literature or folklore. A netsuke can also have religious or symbolic significance, such as embodying a particular virtue or representing a particular deity.

In today's world, netsuke are mostly collected as pieces of art, housed in museums and private collections.

Disclaimer:
This listing is subject to export control and cannot be exported from Canada. The import or export of goods containing ivory, whale bone, sealskin, or items made from other endangered or protected species is often prohibited or restricted, and the import or export of such goods frequently calls for specific licenses or permissions. The purchaser is in charge of ensuring that the item is correctly and legally exported or imported. For further information, don't hesitate to get in touch with one of our experts.

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