Japanese Bone Anthropomorphic Toad Figural Carving, 19th C.

Details

Description

A finely carved Japanese bone figural carving depicting an anthropomorphic toad standing upright in a human-like pose. The figure is … Read more A finely carved Japanese bone figural carving depicting an anthropomorphic toad standing upright in a human-like pose. The figure is sculpted fully in the round, with carefully modeled limbs, expressive facial features, and textured skin rendered through dense circular carving. The compact scale and playful posture reflect the humor and visual wit associated with Edo-period small sculpture. Likely late Edo to early Meiji period, circa mid- to late-19th century.
This is a distinctive and characterful piece, well suited for collectors of Japanese smalls, curiosity cabinets, or scholarly desk display.

COLLECTOR'S NOTE
Toads and frogs were favored subjects in Japanese small carvings, appreciated for their humor, symbolism of return and transformation, and their expressive adaptability to anthropomorphic form. This example reflects the influence of netsuke carving traditions, where tactile handling and surface detail were central to the object’s appeal.
The distinctive circular skin texture was created through repeated hand-powered rotary work, most likely using a traditional bow drill fitted with a small rounded bur. Prior to electrified tools, Edo-period carvers used this method to build layered surface texture while maintaining organic irregularity. The slight variation in depth and spacing visible here is characteristic of hand-driven tooling and supports a 19th-century date.

#0200JWHcph7 See less