Netsuke? Two men playing chess.
Round nut, circumference approx 1-1/2”, height approx 1-1/4”. When you open the nut, it is a carving of 2 asian gentlemen playing checkers. It is highly detailed from the checker board, the black and white checkers, clothing, hair, hands, faces. There is a hole in the top of the nut that houses a mall cord with an orange bead accent. It does have a small peg and hole that acts as a closure for the nut. The nut has what looks like little pin pricks all over it, probably a decorative accent. There are 2 detailed carved leaves on the outside of the nut. It is in excellent condition. My uncle was an American ambassador. When he was in the Philippines, he did a “favor” for a gentleman who then gave this item to my uncle as a thank you gift. My uncle gave it to me before he passed. At one point my uncle admitted to being affiliated with the CIA but this was never substantiated. My uncle received this item sometime in the 1960’s.
This item is round, circumference approx 1-1/2’”, height approx 1-1/4””
Inherited
Yes
Hello, this item is a miniature carved sculpture likely falling under the category of a Japanese okimono or manju netsuke, rather than a traditional toggle-style netsuke. It appears to be crafted from a large nut possibly tagua or betel with an intricately hollowed and hinged interior revealing two seated figures engaged in a game resembling Go or chess. The detailed rendering of the men, the game board, and surrounding elements suggests mid-20th-century origin, possibly Filipino or Southeast Asian in production, as supported by the family provenance linking it to a diplomatic exchange in the Philippines during the 1960s. The fine pinprick decoration on the outer shell and the small carved leaf motifs further contribute to the object’s decorative appeal.
While not a traditional Edo- or Meiji-period Japanese netsuke, objects like this crafted with exquisite detail from organic materials and designed for suspension are increasingly collectible, especially when accompanied by strong narrative provenance. Due to the diplomatic association, excellent condition, and curiosity value, this object carries a fair market value of approximately USD 250–400.
