A netsuke is a form of small sculpture which developed in Japan over a period of more than 300 years. Netsuke served both functional and aesthetic purposes. The kimono, the traditional form of Japanese dress, had no pockets. Women would tuck small personal items into their sleeves, but men suspended their tobacco pouches, pipes, purses or writing implements, on a silk cord, from their obi (sash). These hanging objects are called sagemono. To stop the cord from slipping through the obi, a small toggle was attached. The toggle is called Netsuke.

Artists, who often left their work unsigned, began carving elaborate objects using any and all materials available to them. Some used rare materials including ivory and stone, and others used extremely common materials such as narwhal, boar’s tusk, boar’s teeth, amber, and stag antler. Contemporary artists have also experimented with netsuke. These new carvers are from many countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and some European countries. The different locations of the carvers has helped usher in new themes to this form of sculpture that are not generally evident in Japan.