Amazing Japanese Mingei Folded Paper Snake with Glass Bead Eyes button eyes lined with silky purple-brown fabric

lined with silky purple-brown fabric

" These were made to be used as reference

now lost if there were

which isn't always how one might think of a seal

7 7/8 x 4 7/8 in (20 x 12

Amazing Japanese Mingei Folded Paper Snake with Glass Bead Eyes button eyes lined with silky purple-brown fabricWhat a lot of careful folding went into the creation of this very wonderful paper snake, Japanese (Mingei essentially means 'folk art' in Japanese) and dating to the early 20th century I believe. I've only found one other of these out there, near identical in manner though somewhat larger than this one, sold via 1st Dibs; that one was housed in its original wooden crate, with hand painted paper label, which helped in the dating of this one. It appears