Chinese Toggle Depicting a Dog

A long, low creature in turquoise and rust that seems to be slinking off the shelf.

This toggle depicting a dog is from China. It is carved jade. Toggles originally worn for practical use later became valued gifts and artworks, and the article notes that the netsuke of Japan, a similar counterweight for kimono sashes, originated with Chinese toggles. Elongated and flat to the ground, with a small head, a curling tail and tucked legs. The surface is polished, mottled in blue-green with patches of orange-brown. A small pierced loop shows near the tail. It is 5 inches wide, 1 deep and 1 high.

Built for slinking, and it commits to the bit.