Netsuke: Four Centuries of Masterpieces, The Trumpf Collection Volume I

by Partizia Jirka-Schmitz, Patrizia Jirka-Schmitz, Linden-Museum Stuttgart

Worn by Japanese men as decorative sash toggles, Netsuke were attracting the attention of the Europeans by the late 19th century. Today these delightful art objects are coveted by collectors throughout the world. Netsuke motifs can be mythical beings and insects, molluscs and reptiles, animals that seemed exotic to the Japanese of the Edo and Meiji eras, as well as Dutchmen and other Europeans, Consumate, mastery of the carver's craft in a variety of materials. Among them boxwood, ivory, horn, hornbill, coral, tortoiseshell and lacquer, distinguishes these miniature works of art. The masterpieces created by famous carvers like Yoshimura Shuzan (1700-1773) and Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810-1878) shaped aesthetic developments in this art medium.

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The actual pieces themselves deserve five stars all the way. They are beautifully crafted and a delight to look at. However, I was hoping there would be some information on the individual netsuke that might give some insight into a pieces history. Instead, the writing that accompanies them a more often than not just a description of what we see and personal opinion on what is depicted. But still wonderful to actually be able to see them close up. It's a lovely book and worth looking at if the interest is there.