7The netsuke is a thing of wonder: a tiny utilitarian accessory to traditional Japanese dress that has become an art form in itself, prized by collectors from East to West. The V&A's collection of netsuke is world-famous, and this stunning book draws on its many highlights to explore the origins of netsuke and to trace the sources of these designs in prints, paintings, and woodblock-printed books. It records the evolution of materials and techniques and the patterns of craftsmanship, and is illustrated with some of the very finest examples. A foreword by renowned ceramics artist Edmund de Waal, author of The Hare with Amber Eyes, sheds new light on the beauty and value of these miniature works of art.