Description Beautiful antique ivory Japanese netsuke. This netsuke is made of antique elephant ivory (zouge in Japanese) with beautiful striation and ring patterns. Expertly carved and with an impressive luster and sheen, this high quality ivory does have some scratches and scuff marks as evidence of past use and the entire piece wears a darkened patina of age. In the Japanese mind these marks are thought to contribute to the appeal of a netsuke and give the object its sense of character and past utility. The Japanese use the word aji to specifically refer to this quality, which is thought to complete the netsuke as an art object intended for functional, daily use. This netsuke wasacquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan (retirement home of the Tokugawa Shoguns) and dates from the late Japanese Edo period (1600-1868) or early Meiji period (1868-1912). The netsuke comes from the estate of family who were of the samurai class during the Japanese feudal period. Please read below to learn more about Japanese netsuke. And please read our supplemental note about US and international restrictions on the trade of ivory and ivory products. Size: Height: 3.4 inches (8.6 centimeters) Width (across widest area): 1.0 inches (2.6 centimeters) Weight: 1.1 ounces (31 grams) Important Note: We guarantee the authenticity of every item we sell. Item descriptions and age estimates are based upon our experience and research as well as input from reputable antique dealers and …