Toggle of wood, in form of a badger being bound by a male figure who is kneeling on its tail. Another man is looking on while holding a fan. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 12/4/2005]

Collection type: Object
Description: Toggle of wood, in form of a badger being bound by a male figure who is kneeling on its tail. Another man is looking on while holding a fan. [El.B 'DCF 2004-2006 What's Upstairs?' 12/4/2005]
Geographical reference: Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Cultural groups: Japanese
Person: Field collector Mrs Claude Watney; PRM source Hermann Arthur Gunther; PRM source Albert Everard Gunther
Date / Period: Date made: Before 04/12/1922
Date collected: By 4 December 1922
Acquisition information: Loaned: 1944 Donated: 1980
Materials and processes: Material Wood Plant, Process Carved
Dimensions: Length: max 35 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1980.34.499
Associated publications: In the story of Tanuki and Kitsune, the badger suggested that he would pretend to be dead, and that the fox, disguised as a man, should sell him to get money to buy food. Later, the badger would 'revive' and run back. This netsuke probably depicts the disguised fox in the act of selling the badger to another man. See 'Legend in Japanese Art' by Henri L. Joly, p. 72. [El.B 25/01/2012]