The aesthetics of Japanese craftsmanship move me. Be it tea ware, furniture or clothing, materials used, the craftsmanship techniques and forms captivate me, as they possess a depth that is almost impossible for to describe.<\/p>\n
Netsuke must be seen and experienced firsthand, as pictures simply cannot do these treasures justice. Netsuke are small figures, just a few centimeters tall, carved from natural materials. Since the Edo period, they have served as a kind of button or fastening mechanism for the sagemonos worn on the belts of kimonos. Sagemonos are containers for small personal items, as kimonos have no pockets. Even everyday objects were richly decorated and imbued with symbolic meaning in those days.<\/p>\n
For the depiction of netsuke, Japanese carvers drew inspiration from the animal world of Asian astrology, themes from mythological stories and mythical creatures, as well as, to some extent, humorous depictions of everyday life.<\/p>\n
Even today, netsuke are still admired. They are highly sought after by collectors or are often worn as jewelry.<\/p>\n
My hand-carved netsuke are inspired by historical models or are entirely my own designs.<\/p>\n
Inspired by the autumn forest, the netsuke \"Full Moon Owl and Mouse\" was created from fossilized mammoth ivory.
\nI crafted the owl's eyes from Baltic amber and horn and backed them with gold leaf; the mouse's eye is made of horn.<\/p>\n