Netsuke - A Fashion Trend
Japanese artists invented the miniature sculptures known as netsuke as early as the 17th Century to serve a very practical function. Traditional Japanese kimonos or robes had no pockets.
The men who wore them needed a place to keep their personal belongings such as pipes, tobacco, money, seals, or medicines. These were placed in small pouches or containers hung by cords from the robes' sash or belt.
Japanese fashion trend.
A popular pouch was the box (inro) held closed by a small sliding bead (ojimi). A toggle secured the container was a toggle called a netsuke. The netsuke were carved of wood, bone or ivory and often reflected Japanese folklore and aspects of Japanese life. Interestingly, the people, professions, animals and designs that netsuke display are reflections of the society and time period in which they were created. The small figures of lucky gods and animals were most popular during the Edo period in Japan (1615-1868).
Today these unusual and intriguing objects are carved in Japan and China and command high prices of up to $100,000 or more and can be found at auctions and museums. Because of the current embargo on elephant ivory, they are carved of mammoth tusk ivory and hippotooth ivory as well as wood and bone. Since mammoth tusk and hippotooth are harder substances the carvings can be much more intricate.
These one-of-a-kind designs are beautiful to wear, making a fashion statement all by themselves. In jewelry, netsuke are understandably collectors' items as well, which explains why they are such sought-after pieces.(http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Barrett)
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