FROM THE WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLERS ESTATE MUSEUM I WILL BE LISTING MORE OF THEIR MUSEUM ITEMS DURING WHICH WILL INCLUDE ANTIQUE CARVED PIECES AS WELL AS THE VICTORIAN CARVED KAURI AMBER/GUM ITEMS. THIS PIECE IS ONE OF THE FINEST FROM THE ESTATE MUSEUMS VERY UNIQUE AND RARE COLLECTION OF NETSUKI . From the estate Museum collection I have listed for the estate this unique sea slug Netsuke carved from what looks like a wood root ball, it is enameled with gold dust particles in the enamel and has two jade eyes at the front and turquoise eggs on its back, it also has a signature etched in a jade oval on the bottom of the slug and the black silk or satin cord used to hold the Ojime etc in place, this lovely rare Netsuke is believed to date from the Edo period circa 1860's. The estate notes mention it was bought in the 1950's from a collection of Japanese carved items including several Netsuke for their Museum display cabinet No. 163. This very rare Netsuke is in the form of a well detailed sea slug ( Umiushi or Namako in Japanese ) some of which carried their eggs on their backs, it measures 1.3/4 inches x 1.1/4 inches and it is about 1/2 inch in overall thickness. Netsuke of course are miniature sculptures and traditionally from Japan, often featuring animals and other natural forms, including sea slugs. A "netsuke slug" would refer to a netsuke carving that depicts a slug. Sea slugs, also known as nudibranchs, are sometimes brownish/black in colour and sometimes quite colorful and sometimes these marine creatures carried young or eggs on their backs and can also be depicted in netsuke art. The last picture shows how the Netsuke are used on the clothing. Please view the many pictures I have taken. BOXED AND SIGNATURE TRACKED POSTAGE WITHIN NEW ZEALAND IS $13.50