A netsuke is a miniature sculpture originating in 17th century Japan, and these adorable cast-pewter collectible animal figurines are the Danforth Pewter twist on netsukes. Start a collection surprise a friend, add to your windowsill—there's no limit to what you can do with these adorable little creatures. Most birds are a symbol of freedom, or symbols of future. Many believe birds are a sign of eternal life or immortality. Stories evoke birds as a sign of renewed life, often in transition between life and death, and many even consider birds a bringer of an ideal or proposal for future. All our netsukes are handcrafted in our Middlebury workshop from solid pewter.