EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

This unusual 19th century tonkotsu is carved from wood, lightly gilded, the gilding rubbed to imitate an old, gilded, 'Spanish' leather tonkotsu, the leatherwork of which is embossed with a fierce, seated karashishi on each side. There is, curiously, however nothing to distinguish the 'leather' pouch from the 'metal' catch.