This hand-carved and very detailed sitting Rooster boxwood netsuke bead measues 2 inches wide or long by 1.13 inches wide by 1.34 inches high.
In traditional Japanese dress from the 17th century, the inro box (compartments that stacked together) hung from the obi (belt like sash) of a kimono, on a double cord. At the top of the cord, a large carved bead called a netsuke 根付 acted as a toggle to anchor the inro. A much smaller carved bead called an ojime bead, helped to keep the inro box closed.
Most of our netsuke have authentic double-holes in the base, so when strung on a necklace they will hang upside-down.
Netsuke definition: The term or two characters in Japanese for Netsuke mean root or to attach to.