Netsuke : Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture

Netsuke-tiny, exquisitely carved globes or clasps used to secure pouches to the kimono-have long been an obsession for collectors in the West as well as in the East. They depict a wide variety of figures and cultural icons, from marketplace tradesmen to otherworldly beings to revered animals of the Chinese zodiac; representations of the decidedly domestic to the frankly erotic. Unlike earlier books on the subject, Netsuke: Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculptureexamines the pieces in the context of Japanese life, detailing the origins of the designs and themes that were carried down through the centuries, evolving and changing over time. Lavishly illustrated with over 500 color photographs, Netsukeis the definitive work on these remarkably minute, endlessly intricate objects.Earle, Joe is the author of 'Netsuke : Fantasy and Reality in Japanese Miniature Sculpture', published 2001 under ISBN 9780878466221 and ISBN 0878466223.