Netsuke, toggle of ivory

This netsuke made of ivory is carved into a ball of comic masks. 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 netsuke is composed of 13 small masks used in Kyogen plays, the comic interlude to the serious No plays of classical Japanese theatre. The round shape makes an ideal netsuke. The himetoshi, holes for passing the cord through are both in the base.

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