netsuke; carved toggle
A small carved toggle used to attach a container (inrō) or pouch to the sash of a kimono. A traditional Japanese art form.
He bought an old netsuke at the antique fair.
This netsuke is made of ivory.
Compound of 根 (ne, 'root') and 付け (tsuke, 'attaching'), from the verb 付ける (tsukeru, 'to attach'). The spelling 根付 is conventional.