A boxwood netsuke depicting Daruma seated with his hands folded beneath his kimono. Daruma’s posture, with his hands concealed under the garment, evokes the essence of meditation and inner concentration. Himotoshi on the back and underside; incised signature on the underside. Bodhidharma, known in Japan as Daruma, was an Indian monk of the sixth century regarded as the founder of Zen Buddhism. According to tradition, he spent nine years meditating in a cave facing a wall, without moving his gaze and without closing his eyelids. Netsuke, composed of the kanji ne (根), meaning "root," and tsuke (付け), meaning "to attach," are small Japanese sculptures originally used as fasteners to secure objects to the sashes of kimono (obi 帯). From the late 19th century they became highly collectible in Europe and America, admired for the variety of subjects, the fine details, the patina and their strong tactile appeal. ---The netsuke is in good condition, with slight signs of wear. Please refer to the pictures for further details. The item will be carefully packed and shipped via DHL or FedEx, accompanied by the original certificate of authenticity issued by Mastromauro Japanese art gallery based in Milan, Italy. 438