Carved Little Wooden Owl Toggle (Natsuke?) Hayes lithography co with minor loss/smudging of paint

with minor loss/smudging of paint in a few spots

They reference classic styles of imperial porcelain

Tall and with graceful

whose collection included mid-century art

Each claw measures 2 3/4" tall x 2 3/4" wide x 3 5/8" deep

Carved Little Wooden Owl Toggle (Natsuke?) Hayes lithography co with minor loss/smudging of paintSuch a sweet and curious little owl! The little branch on which it stands is hollow inside, which makes me think it might be a Japanese Natsuke (an ornamental togglelike piece used to attach a box, pipe, or pouch to the obi sash of a kimono), which, though most commonly carved of ivory, are also found carved of wood. It certainly seems it was created to serve a toggle like function, but now, if balanced right, it will stand up in its own. It feels as