Rat with Three Young

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The rat is associated with Daikoku, the God of Wealth, and is the first sign of the Zodiac. This netsuke would been worn as a talisman by someone born in the Year of the Rat.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art