Kimono is the popular garb of Japan; both men and women alike wear kimonos. The long sleeves provide women with a place to put their belongings, and they create makeshift purses. However, the men did not have a choice, so their wives made them makeshift purses as well. This purses used the sash of the kimono to stay in place. But there were intricate button-like features that held the purses from opening. And it was called Netsuke.
It started as a way to close the purse but soon became an intricately designed beauty. Many started designing their own netsuke. Different classes of individuals had different types of Netsuke. The warriors wore bronze.
The art of Netsuke was at an all-time high in the 16th and 17th centuries. But with the advent of modern clothes, the art seems to have lost its importance or so we might think. That’s absolutely untrue; and Netsuke art is still loved by people. In fact, there are netsuke for sale on popular websites like IvoryAndArt.com. And there are people from Europe, America, and all around the world who have a passion for Netsuke.
The material used in the Netsuke was Ivory. In previous centuries it wasn’t hard to come by Ivory. Now, the laws prohibit hurting animals. So it is very hard to get the hands on Ivory and create Netsuke. The Netsuke Art movement regained momentum in the 19th century, and the carvers started using other materials. Instead of Ivory, the carvers started using wood, amber, antelope horn, persimmon, boxwood, narwhal tooth, boar tusk, hornbill beak, and many other materials to create Netsuke. As ivory is hard to find now, it is better for artists to use materials that do not hurt animals and are easier to come by.
