This was a gift to my mother from my aunt, but not sure what it is or what it is for? Does anybody know anything about this?
It is a decorative piece. Several of my Asian students gave them to me as gifts.
It is Japanese Hanging Scroll Weights Tassel www.ebay.com/
For example the price of Kutani Japanese Hanging Porcelain Scroll Weights Red & White + Purple Tassels is $30 www.ebay.com/
This is a Japanese Fuchin Porcelain Hanging Scroll Weight Tassel
I found identical tassels: www.worthpoint.com/
This is a Japanese Fuchin Porcelain Weight Tassel and was originally used to add weight on each end of a hanging scroll to keep the scroll balanced and keep it still when the wind was blowing (houses were usually very open so fresh air could blow through the house).
I attach tassels to skeleton keys that I leave in the keyholes of my lockable china cabinets so if they fall to the floor we can find them and not sweep the keys away by mistake.
