1-234-737 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

Drum and fox's mask netsuke, Late Edo period, Japan, early 19th century. A small carved wood netsuke in the form of a drum with fox's mask and drum stick placed on top. The base has an ivory seal and signature of the maker. Foxes feature in more Japanese myths than any other creature. The fox is often associated with the Shinto rice-god Inari, and is believed to be able to transform itself into human shape - often a beautiful woman who wreaks havoc in love affairs.