Chinese Toggle Depicting Insect

A smooth white cicada body with brown tide-marks and a plain, clean shape.

This toggle depicting insect is from China. It is 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. The long tapered form has two small rounded eyes at the top and faint grooves marking the folded wings. The surface is creamy white with soft, glossy sheen and brown streaks near the shoulder. It is 0.75 inches long and 2 high.

Plain, polished and a little shy.