Chinese Toggle Depicting Rat in Basket

A sleeping mouse has claimed a woven basket and refuses to apologize for it.

This carved wood toggle depicting a rat in a basket is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Chinese toggles were small carved weights for cords at the belt, and a figure set within a basket gave the carver a compact, closed shape. A small animal lies curled on top of a round lidded basket, tail trailing along the rim. The basket sides show carved herringbone panels below a braided band, all in a dark reddish-brown finish with soft edges. It is 1.25 inches wide, 1.25 deep and 1 high.

Comfortable, well housed, and not accepting visitors.