A Finger citron, known in China as Buddha’s hand, is an unusually shaped citron variety with finger-like sections, resembling a human hand. The ‘Buddha's hand’ fruit is very fragrant and used predominantly in China and Japan for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing. However, the sliced, dried peel of immature fruits is also prescribed as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine. The Finger citron (Foshou) symbolizes Blessings (Fu) and Longevity (Shou). This miniature carving was made from the kernel of a ‘gânlan’ fruit which is a very hard material. It is not signed and dates from the latter half of the 20th century. Length 3.1 cm. Diameter 2.1 cm.