One last entry from exhibitions at the Museum of Asian Arts in San Francisco.
Netsuke have always fascinated me. The small, intricate carvings, often in bone, ivory or wood, originally served a practical purpose. They were used as part of a closure for a container (holding tobacco, medicine, or coins) that hung from the obi sash of a kimono.
Now, they are highly valued, collectible items. The display at the museum showed some of the finest examples I’ve seen. The pieces, no more than two inches high and often smaller, depict people, animals, and fantastical creatures. The level of detail is extraordinary.