This a rare 20” strand with a ivory dragon netsuke sculpture that was invented in  17th century Japan to serve practical function ( the two Japanese characters netsuke mean “root” and “to attach”). Traditional Japanese Garment —robes called kosode and kimono had no pockets, however men who wore them needed a place to store their personal belongings such as pipes, tobacco, money, etc. The solution was to place such objects in containers (called sagemono) hung by cords from robes sash (obi). Whatever the form of the container, the fastener that secured the cord at the top of the sash was a carved button. 

Mixed strand with African glass beads, silver, malachite, turquoise, ivory disc beads, nephrite jade beads