Netsuke (The Collectors Library)

For centuries they were ornaments of dress in Japan. Now they are recognized as unique works of art, unlike the art form of any other country, special, small and endearing. Here is a compact yet extremely thorough study of the art of netsuke: with hundreds of photographs, history, names of major artists in the field, explanations of the stories and folklore many of them illustrate, and of the variety of materials of which they were made. There's a glossary of Japanese terms, and a complete index.