Japanese Netsuke Carving Collection-Japan 20081515mm

Traditional Japanese garments—robes called kosode and kimono had no pockets; however, men who wore them needed a place to store their personal belongings, such as pipes, tobacco, money, seals, or medicines. Their solution was to place such objects in containers called sagemono hung by cords from the robes' sashes (obi). The containers may have been pouches or small woven baskets, but the most popular were beautifully crafted boxes (inro), which were held shut by ojime which were sliding beads on cords. Whatever the form of the container, the fastener that secured the cord at the top of the sash was a carved, button-like toggle called a netsuke.

Don't you just love Google.

I don't remember where I bought these, probably an Estate Sale. I never really looked at then until recently. I thought they might be tagua and I bet that is true. But I don't really know. They do have those little holes for hanging on the garment. I suppose you could use them as pendants.

Buyer gets all four carvings.

NOTE: (Stored with tagua.)