Jackal Belt Toggle

Chinese belt toggle in the shape of a jackal or other canine. Carved from wood, with pearl eyes. Jackals are seen as cunning creatures in Buddhist folk lore, similar to the European red fox. Zhuizi are tragically rarely represented in photos, paintings, or even stories from China. Scholars believe this is because these items were so common place that they were unremarkable. But they are very remarkable to us. H. 1 ½"; L. 2 ¼"; W. ⅝" c. 1800s #9006