Amazing Japanese Mingei Folded Paper Snake with Glass Bead Eyes button eyes with just a tiny bit

with just a tiny bit of chipping to the plate in one spot on the rim

lined with silky purple-brown fabric

printed front and back)

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

" These were made to be used as reference

Amazing Japanese Mingei Folded Paper Snake with Glass Bead Eyes button eyes with just a tiny bitWhat 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