A carved ivory netsuke of a man and a woman clothed in patterned kimonos, engaged in sexual activity. The incised carving has color pigments rubbed into the grooves. There is a tiny cartouche on the bottom of the man's kimono. Overall size is 1-1/2" x 1-1/2".
A netsuke is a form of miniature sculpture which developed in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. Netsuke served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Women would tuck small personal items into their sleeves, but men suspended their tobacco pouches, pipes, purses, or writing implements on a silk cord from their obi (kimono sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. To stop the cord from slipping through the obi, a small toggle was attached. The toggle is called a netsuke.
100/200 Sold $166.75
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