made in Japan
This netsuke made of lacquered and gilt wood is of a dancer wearing a lion mask. A netsuke is used to fasten an inro, a small lacquered container, which hung from the sash of a man's kimono. They became miniature art forms in their own right.
This detail of a netsuke made of lacquered and gilt wood shows the dancers face between the jaws of the lion mask. These lionmasks were worn for dancers who performed at New Year.
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