Antique Japanese Erotic Netsuke, Hand Carved Ivory. Signed

Antique Japanese explicit erotic netsuke, carved on bone and with stylized hand-painted details in black ink. This delicate and curious piece is made with all the accuracy and love for the detail that characterizes Japanese art. It shows a couple formed by a woman and a man, making love In a very exaggerated and explicit way. These erotic scenes were very popular in antique Japanese art. Netsukes began to be made in Japan in the 17th century. They are meant to hang the inro, a kind of small wooden box designed to keep personal objects, from the obi (the belt of the kimono) or from the leather straps in antique Japanese clothing. As kimonos and Japanese siuts had no pockets, people had to carry their belongings in boxes or bags hanging from a cord; this cord was fixed to the obi or the straps, and to prevent it from slipping they used the netsukes. When Western clothes began to be used in Japan in the 19th century, traditional netsukes stopped being made. From then on, netsukes started to be made only for ornamental reasons or for special collections. This netsuke is an original antique piece, beautifully carved with great accuracy in the details; also, the artists signature is carved and painted in red at the bottom of the figure, just in the mans leg. Netsuke measurements: 40 x 37 mm.