Chinese Toggle Depicting Fruit Rattle with Seed

Two old keys knotted onto a dark round weight with a fraying cord.

This carved wood toggle depicting a fruit rattle with seed is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Carved wood toggles, like netsuke in Japan, show a wide range of subjects drawn from nature and daily life, with a small hole for the cord. A smooth, dark purple-brown ball with a flat base is bound by thick twisted rope. Two iron keys with ring bows and plain shanks dangle from the knots, rusted and slightly bent. The cord looks pale and frayed. It is 1.5 inches wide, 4 high and 1.5 in diameter.

Locks not included, and rather a lot of knots.