Netsuke. Meiji period, Japan, late 19th-early... Lot 64

Netsuke. Meiji period, Japan, late 19th-early 20th century. "Frogs." Carved boxwood. Signed. Measurements: 4 x 3,5 x 2,5 cm. The netsuke are miniature sculptures that were invented in the seventeenth century in Japan as a complement to clothing, specifically, as a decorative object that retained the string of the inro boxes. Like the inro and ojime, evolved over time from a strictly utilitarian use to become objects with great artistic merit and presenting the work of skilled craftsmen. Such objects have a long history that captures important aspects of folklore and life in Japan.