Netsuke are small toggles or buckles carved from wood or ivory. The Japanese in the seventeenth century used them to fasten pouches to their kimono belt, since kimonos had no pockets. This lavishly illustrated book takes the reader on an exciting tour of one type of netsuke—those carved to look like the masks used by stage actors.

Gem and Ornamental Materials of Organic Origin is a unique source of information on this neglected topic of gemology. Presented in full color, with over 200 stunning photographs for ease of reference and identification, the book allows material to be recognized by sight, avoiding the usual gemological tests, which can ruin them. A comprehensive list of materials is included and each is presented with details or its origin, availability and conservation status. Examples of the uses of each material are given, along with a brief history of their use.

In Fables in Ivory, delightful Japanese legends are accompanied With dozens of color photographs and extensive historical background. To introduce netsuke sculptures to a wider audience and, at the same time, to tell some of the legends that inspired their creators, Adrienne Barbanson presents here a collection of superb photographs accompanied by a narrative text designed to enhance the reader's appreciation of this remarkable by relatively unfamiliar art.

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