Fine Chinese Toggle of Carved Pair of Shoes

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DESCRIPTION: An antique Chinese boxwood toggle (Guajian) carved as a pair of men’s shoes resting side by side, a symbol of marital harmony and the wish for many sons. The shoes are elaborately carved with hollowed interior, relief banding, and incised designs on all sides including the soles. A hole running through the inner sides of each shoe forms the track used for threading cords from which this toggle would have been suspended as a counterweight to some other object. An outstanding example of Chinese folk art dating from the 19th C. (Qing Dynasty), this toggle is in overall fine condition with normal signs of wear and usage, the fine-grained boxwood having a wonderful, aged patina from years of use. DIMENSIONS: 2” long (5 cm) x .75” high (2 cm). <div id='rater_target1371999'></div>

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