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 Netsuke
Is one item
that has been attracting interest in recent years.
Netsuke are of
course those interesting
little Japanese carvings of
people, animals, spirits and
amphibians. Netsuke are
generally carved from ivory, but are
also made of antler, wood or metal and
measure less than two inches high.
While many people are familiar with
the term, but most have only a foggy
notion what they were used for.
To the Japanese population prior to
the 1920's, Netsuke were a necessary
everyday item as the traditional
clothing, the Kimono, were without
pockets. Instead of a pocket, the Japanese
used a small decorative box with
multiple sections called an "Inro" to
contain everyday items such as money or
writing implements. The Inro was hung from
the top, under the kimono's sash, the Netsuke
working as a toggle to hold it in place.
The most valuable Netsuke are those produced
for the domestic Japanese market made before
1868. Up until then Japan was controlled by the
Tokugawa regime, who kept the Japanese market
virtually closed to foreign goods until after their
overthrow in 1867.
Values for these miniature works of art vary
immensely depending on their maker, rarity
and quality with those early pieces marked
marked by their maker being the most sought
after.
While it is still possible to pick up
good quality early 20th Century Netsuke for
under $200.00, most 19th Century
examples now sell for over $500.00.
With the rise in value for these originally pieces
a number poor quality reproductions have
entered the market, some even produced
from cast resins aged to resemble old Ivory.
As with all things Antique novice collectors
should educate themselves through
reading reference material regarding
Netsuke, visiting museum exhibits, and examining
as many authentic Netsuke as they can find.
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