Antique Japanese Hand-Carved Wood Horse Netsuke 882652

A small but expressive antique Japanese netsuke — a kneeling horse hand-carved in dense, dark hardwood, with the characteristic gesture of mouth open mid-whinny and an inset glass eye that catches light. Netsuke functioned as toggles for the silk cord of an inrō (small lacquered case) tucked into the obi of a kimono; horses appear frequently in netsuke as one of the twelve zodiac animals (the noble, energetic Year of the Horse). The underside carries a small inlaid signature panel — a maker’s mark in the traditional manner. The grain of the wood and the warm brown patina speak to a century-plus of careful handling. Multiple available — each piece individually carved, no two identical.

Specifications

• Material: Hand-carved hardwood with inlaid glass eyes
• Weight: 32g
• Subject: Kneeling Horse (mid-whinny)
• Origin: Japan
• Era: Antique
• Item: 882652

FAQs

1. Are all the netsuke identical? No — each is hand-carved and slightly different in detail and patina.
2. Is the signature genuine? The underside inlaid panel carries kanji characters in the traditional manner.
3. What was a netsuke used for? A functional toggle for the silk cord of a sash-pouch (inrō) on a kimono.
4. Display? A small display case or shadow-box with stable temperature/humidity.