Netsuke of Daikoku and Mallet on Bale

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image features a small, wooden figurine of Daikoku, a Japanese deity. The figurine has a dark brown color with lighter brown highlights. Daikoku is depicted wearing traditional Japanese clothing, including a robe and head covering. He has a large belly and is shown with his right arm bent at the elbow, holding what appears to be a mallet. The mallet has a large head and a long handle. The figurine appears to be a netsuke, a type of Japanese toggle used to attach small items to a cord. The background of the image is light gray, with a subtle shadow cast by the figurine. The overall impression is that of a traditional Japanese artifact, likely created for decorative or functional purposes.