Here are some sold works and NFS items that Fumio has done.

***** Click photo to enlarge *****

Kirin Netsuke 2020.   *Not for Sale

 Materials: Antique Elephant Ivory, Mother of Pearl

 Dimensions: 111mmH X 43mmW X 20mm D.     finished April 2020

Tuatara (Spiny Back) / Okimono, Necklace

 82mm X 78mm across, 48mm high , 185g

Carved from Deer Antler Crown, Inlaid Goat Horn Eyes

*one of the NZ's Icon, Tuatara with Silver Ferns on bottom.   Finished Oct 2020

Ama(pearl and abalone diver) with Cuttlefish

 carved from Hippopotamus tooth with mother of pearl and goat horn inlay 

I had a piece of hippo tooth and wanted to make something nice. I looked at the well known Netsuke and loved it, so I tried.  *Not for sale

Kudari-Ryu / The Messenger from the Heaven

 Materials: Warthog Tusk, Goat Horn, Japanese URUSHI Lacquer

 125mm.        This is NOT a Netsuke.       finished in 2020.   *Not for Sale

Tuatara

 finished in Nov 2020,   Mammoth Ivory, Mother of Pearl 

Dragon Manju Netsuke.        finished Sep 2020

 Materials: Hippo Tooth, Maekanagu(Antique Brass Dragon for Tabaco Pouch) * Not for Sale

Kirin 

Baku / a Mythical Creature which devours Nightmares .          *Sold

 carved from Deer Antler 129mm L X 25mmW X 19mmD,  inlaid Goat horn eyes

 Dyed by Yasya and Japanese Sumi Ink

Dancing Fox

 carved from recycled antique ivory

 80mm length

Happy Lucky Sparrow Couple .    *Not for Sale

 Material: Walnut, Goat Horn, Tortoise Shell 

Fumio's collection, Antique Netsuke
Fumio's collection, Antique Netsuke

What is NETSUKE ?

  

Netsuke is a toggle, acting as a catch on the sash of a Kimono.

A Netsuke is a small sculptual object which has gradually developed in Japan over a period of four hundred years.Netsuke(singular or plural) initially served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The traditional form of Japanse dress, the Kimono, had no pokets. Men suspended thier tabacco pouches, pipes, purses, writing implements and other items of daily use on a silk cord passed behind their obi(sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. The Netsukewas attached to other end of the cord preventing the cord from slipping through the obi.

In general, the Netsuke has the following physical characteristics or requirements:

*To serve as a toggle attached to hanging objects (called Sagemono), it has a hole or a channel (himotoshi) to put the cord through.

*To be worn as an accessory or held in hands, it doesn’t (or shouldn’t) have parts that can easily be broken or might catch the garment.

*To be worn at the waist, it is comparatively small. It is generally about as large as you can hold in your hand, but it could be a bit smaller or larger than that.