| Although Netsuke was a form of necessity, it was | | | | There is one other type collected today and it is called |
| also a form of defiance within a society that was | | | | the mask Netsuke. It is much larger in size, actually |
| under a firm handed dictatorship of the Japanese | | | | being the size of a human face. This form or mask is |
| Empire. Even though the toggle was a way to hold in | | | | for wall display and is made of the same types of |
| the belongings held within the pouch tied around the | | | | materials as the forms and with all the exquisite details |
| waist of the pocket-less Japanese clothing that was | | | | found in traditional miniature Japanese Netsuke has. |
| traditionally worn over 300 years ago, the toggle was | | | | Even though the necessity has diminished over time, |
| artistically defiant in its unique artistic expressions. | | | | the desire for collections is going stronger than ever |
| These many varieties of artistic expression were | | | | before all around the world. The collections of |
| most commonly made out of various forms of | | | | traditional ones that are around today are still hand |
| ceramic materials, the many different kinds of mammal | | | | crafted by a handful of very traditional and talented |
| and animal ivories, different kinds of hard, but workable | | | | carving artists. The exquisite beauty of today's |
| metals and even corrals from the ocean if hard | | | | Netsuke has all of the love and passion as yesterday's |
| enough. There are not only different types of materials | | | | carvings. It is just as expressive in artistic formations |
| that these are made of, but there are also several | | | | as it can be without ever straying away from its |
| different Netsuke varieties. | | | | originality in meaning and values of what Netsuke has |
| There is the sashi Netsuke that is long, with an | | | | always been based upon. |
| emphasis on the formation and shape. There is also | | | | When looking to start your very own Netsuke |
| the katabori Netsuke that is based more on detailed | | | | collection, make sure to be purchasing artistic works |
| characteristics and a three-diminsenal formation. The | | | | from the real artists, not the kind of massed produced |
| last three original Netsuke forms are the ryusa, the | | | | Netsuke. With a little research over the Internet, finding |
| manju and the kagamibuta, and they are all slightly | | | | the real thing in Netsuke is easy. By taking the time to |
| flatter and round compared to the katabori and the | | | | gain a little knowledge of real collecting, you will soon |
| sashi Netsuke is. These original Netsuke toggles are | | | | be on your way to the purchasing of some very |
| always around an inch in height and inch in depth for | | | | uniquely exquisite pieces of artworks. |
| size proportions. | | | | |