An introduction to netsuke

NETSUKE artists have carved an imperishable niche for themselves in the hearts of collectors and connoisseurs everywhere. Among the many Japanese objets d'art, few have aroused greater admiration than the netsuke. This miniature piece of Japanese sculpture, approximately 1 1/2 inches in size, was designed (in the absence of pockets onkimonos) as an aid in suspending articles such as tobacco pouches from the sash of a kimono. It developed in ancient times as a utilitarian object, but became in the 16th century an artistic one as well, and flourished as such until 1926. No longer commonly worn