A friend of mine recently was telling me about Netsuke (pronounced NET-SKAY) art. Apparently there is an animal that is representative of each person’s birth year. This Cocker Spaniel was carved by Netsuke artist-in-training, Nori Mimbu.

Netsuke is the art of taking each one of those animals and carving it. Apparently Netsukee has quite a following from Japan as well as other countries.

Morikami Museum just had a showing and an auction in Delray Beach featuring Netsuke carvings from these various artists as part of the International Netsuke Society Annual Convention which was held at Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Coconut Grove, just south of Miami.

Excerpt of an email from a friend who attended:

…they had over 175 registered for their meeting this year in Coconut Grove. Mostly Japanese, but many from other countries. In addition to their lectures, workshops, tours, and parties, they feature auctions of completed works. All of their carvings can be held in your hand—-and they encourage people to handle their artwork—-I suppose to better appreciate all of the minute indentations and rounding of surfaces. Absolutely amazing the detail they carve into such small creatures!!! Some even have ivory or deer horn particles embedded, and some have very special coloring.