Japanese netsuke-miniature carvings-are profiled in this wonderful Japanese arts book.These tiny masterpieces of sculpture (mostly in ivory and wood), of lacquer, and of metalwork captivated collectors with the charm of their conception, the intricacy of their detail, and the sheer tactile pleasure of handling them. Basically they were utilitarian in purpose, serving as toggles or pendants to support medicine boxes, tobacco pouches, and similar articles suspended b...

With dozens of photos and illustrations, A Introduction to Netsuke is a readable and thorough guide to Japanese miniature art.Among the many Japanese fine arts, few have aroused greater admiration than the netsuke. This miniature piece of Japanese sculpture, approximately 1 1/2 inches in size, was designed (in the absence of pockets on kimonos) as an aid in suspending articles such as tobacco pouches from the sash of a kimono. It developed in ancient times...

"TSUBA-Japanese Sword Guards" 2012 book by Gary Murtha, containing information on over 65 tsuba making schools and groups, an artist index with information and kao and kakihan of nearly 2,000 artists and illustrations of over 60 b/w tsuba. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My first book about Japanese tsuba was published in 1981 and was titled The Tsuba. I followed up with Japanese Sword Guard Artists in 1982 and The Samurai Sword-American Per...

Two thousand years ago, Japan and Korea began a long-standing history of cultural contact. For the Koreans, this meant an invasion in the 1590s spawning four centuries of bitter contempt for Japanese society. The Japanese, however, were culturally enriched, gathering as spoils of war the traditions of Buddhism, elements of Chinese writing, and most valued of all, the removal of master potters from their Korean captives.In Japanese Satsuma Pottery, delight in "a tale of two cultures...

Featuring dozens of Japanese netsuke masterpieces and extensive commentary, this Japanese art book is a treasured collector's item.Netsuke are superb miniature carvings, usually less than two inches high, that have been created by Japanese artists for over three hundred years. During that time, they have portrayed almost every aspect of life and culture in Japan.These tiny carvings were traditionally used to prevent the cord attached to a gentleman's medici...

Featuring dozens of Japanese netsuke masterpieces and insightful commentary, this Japanese art book is a classic collector’s item.Netsuke: A Guide for Collectors approaches the subject of Japanese nestuke from the point of view of the amateur collector rather than that of an owner discussing his own accomplished collection.Ever since Japan's emergence a little over a century ago from her long period of seclusion under Tokugawa rule, netsuke have ex...

Gain some new ideas along with the principles and history of Japanese stone gardening with this useful and beautiful garden design book.Japanese Stone Gardens provides a comprehensive introduction to the powerful mystique and dynamism of the Japanese stone garden—from their earliest use as props in animistic rituals, to their appropriation by Zen monks and priests to create settings conducive to contemplation and finally to their contemporary uses and mean...

Presenting twenty-five master gardens, this landscape design book explores the ingenuity and range of Japanese landscaping, from the self-imposed confines of courtyard designs to the open expanses of the stroll garden.No two Japanese gardens are ever the same. The Japanese Zen garden is a work of art equivalent in scale to an installation, but it is also an urban refuge, a setting where we can attain composure and equipoise. It is a place to collect our thoughts, e...

This complete guide to Batik is an invaluable resource for those interested in Batik history, design, and weaving.Here in this volume, the author has not only given a comprehensive and fascinating account of the origins and history of batik, with examples of techniques and design, but also includes a complete "How-To-Do-It" section on modern methods of creating batik.The text is lucid and easy to follow, and the simple step-by-step format will enable the ar...

Contemporary Netsuke is an in-depth study of Japanese netsuke-miniature sculptures that are favorites of collectors and artists.In this unusual and engaging Japanese art book the author traces the historical background of netsuke and goes on to examine its current state, at the same time providing the background knowledge that every collector needs concerning authenticity, workmanship, and materials along with a wealth of information on subject matter, tec...

"Offers a strong incentive for us to get back to the natural world, stay quiet, reflect, and write to connect with a spirit that is larger than ourselves."—Sheila Bender, author of Keeping a Journal You LoveA heartfelt combination of spiritual discovery, environmental observations, and journal writing, The Wise Earth Speaks to Your Spirit offers readers a 52-week cycle of themed essays and related questions about the natural world. Entries on nigh...

Driven to unravel the mystery surrounding the tribe of the Veddas, the tropical island's aboriginal people, traveler, Alexis Debary, hops on a local bus while on holiday on Sri Lanka. Serendipity makes her stumble on, collecting impressions, but she is also Driven to unravel the mystery surrounding the tribe, who still live in the depth of the jungle, and what she ultimately encounters surpasses her expectations and is too precious not to share.