Netsuke im Vergleich / Netsuke in Comparison

Netsuke - classic belt ornaments for men - stand in a historical, mythological, and artistic tradition of Japanese culture. Carvers and their students, even counterfeiters, continued the work of their predecessors, copying or varying existing pieces and sometimes creating significant artworks in miniature. Since Japan's opening in 1853, these miniatures have gained appreciation and found enthusiasts around the world. Even today, Netsuke are created in a wide variety of motifs. This volume presents one hundred Netsuke from a private collection. For the first time, an attempt is made to compare them with images from other collections and literature, in order to discuss their position within this art form and to convey some of the diversity and expressiveness of Netsuke.