Netsuke of a Group of Rats Nestled in an Abalone Shell 1871 - 1899

This netsuke, created by Masamitsu, is a small carving in the round depicting a group of rats nestled in an abalone shell. In Japanese culture, rats are associated with resourcefulness and wealth, often seen as auspicious symbols of financial prosperity and good fortune, particularly due to their high reproduction rate. Consider how these creatures, typically reviled, are here symbols of prosperity. In medieval Europe, rats were often depicted as carriers of disease, linked to the plague and representing death and decay. Yet, the underlying theme of survival, of thriving in challenging circumstances, remains. Just as the serpent sheds its skin, the rat, too, embodies transformation. We see, thus, not a linear progression, but a cyclical one. The rat, transformed from pest to a symbol of wealth, constantly resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, engaging our collective memory.