Ivory Ryusa manju with auspicious emblems used in the New Year's celebration, Japan, 19th century The manju netsuke is openwork and inlaid with a gilt copper element. It shows the kagami mochi (glutinous rice balls), the shime-kazari, an ornamental and symbolic arrangement installed at the entrance of the temple or the Japanese house on the occasion of the New Year. It consists of a rope of rice straw, the shime-nawa, to which are attached at regular intervals emblems of happiness and longevity: ebi (lobster), kushi gaki (small bamboo stalks) yuzuri (daphne leaves), urajiro (fern leaves), noshi (originally dried pieces of awabi, which later became decorative folded papers for the holidays) Unsigned. Height : 3,3 cm ; weight : 15 g Accompanied by a handwritten and illustrated description by the collector. The CIC certificate will be given to the buyer. Étienne de Villaret Collection - lots 81 to 96