Boxwood netsuke of a snake tangled on itself, each scale is carved with precision, and the overall brown patina is intense. Even though snakes are almost always bad omen in Asia, it is not the case in Japan. Their proximity to the floor and the fact that some can be venomous is part of the answer. Butin Japan, snakes, especially if they are white can be perceived as a good omen. Usually associated with the goddess Benzaiten, all snakes are believed to grant fortune to anyone that would cross their path. Mother of pearl inlay with a signature underneath

Japan –Meiji era (1868-1912)Height : 3 cm -Length: 5.25 cm –Width: 2.75 cm