Erotica Netsuke of Two Faces

The netsuke is a personal decoration, a handling piece, dating back to the 17th century Japan. It was a well known tradition to buy a Shunga for newly married couples, and was typically used as a sexual guide for the children of wealthy families in Japan. Here you see the combination of male and female with a subtle reference bodhisattva like-male, with his elongated ear (on one side of the netsuke), and the female hair dress on the other. From the top you see two different hair treatments and the himotoshi (hole for the cord for attachment). The back-side is self explanatory, and has a mark on the left cheek, which we believe to say coupling or joining. Artist is unknown, and not signed. Age: 20^th century piece. Material: Fruitwood. Condition: The carving is not as refined as those in ivory or horn, but the overall condition is good. Dimensions: 1 3/8”w x7/8”d x 1 ½”h (3.5cm x 2.25cm x 3.8cm)

NOTE: Thanks to preservation efforts, animals and endangered materials (e.g. ivory and rare woods) are conservatively used today, if not banned altogether. However, we recognize that these materials have been important since ancient times for making a wide range of functional and decorative items. We only feature antique ivory and rare tree species because, while we support conservation, we truly feel that the experience and appreciation of historic artifacts should also be  preserved.