Snake shaped netsuke with purple cord.
A netsuke is a small toggle used to secure the cord of a pouch or hanging box to the belt of the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, to prevent it from slipping to the ground. The need for netsuke arose because the kimono, worn by both sexes and all classes of society, has no pockets and, therefore, nowhere to keep small personal items like purses or smoking pipes. Netsuke were invented in the 16th century and originally fashioned from wood or bamboo, but later a wider range of materials were used, such as ivory, horn, coral, tortoiseshell, stone, porcelain, metal, textiles, and plastic. As the craft developed into an art form, more elaborate three-dimensional designs were made. Some netsuke are miniature representations of figures, animals, or real-life objects from Japanese culture, but others are simply decorative.
