Ivory ball netsuke

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This netsuke is carved from ivory. There are many different animals carved into the netsuke which include butterflies, dragonflies, a tortoise, a frog, snails and a crab.

Two views of an ivory netsuke ball

According to Japanese tradition, many of the animals have special meanings.

  • The tortoise is a symbol of long life.
  • The dragonfly is a sign of victory and it is also the emblem of Japan.
  • The butterfly is believed to foretell death.

The snail, frog and snake are known as San-sukumi in Japanese. These creatures are all afraid of each other. The snake can eat the frog, the frog can eat the snail and the snail’s slime can poison the snake.

The snake is also a sign of the zodiac.