A boxwood netsuke depicting Hotei with a staff, shown dragging a large sack; the himotoshi are formed within the sack. 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 very good condition, with light 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. 463