Collectors today treasure the small carved toggles called netsuke, this is pronounced (nets,ski) for their artistic value, the original purpose was functional.  The traditional kimono had no pockets, so a small multi-tier box called an inro was used to hold personal belongings.  The inro was hung on a cord which passed through a bead called an ojime, then through the netsuke which was pushed behind the obi (sash) to emerge at the top.

Early netsuke's began as twigs, but later in the 17th century,  elaborate carvings had become popular, reaching a peak around the 18th century.  Differing areas of Japan evolved their own school of carving.  Most of the carvers were pheasants supplementing their income, despite modern ideas that they were all masters.

The most popular material used was ivory, but bone, stag antler and bizarre materials were also used.  Whatever the material used, to do is job a netsuke must have a hole, usually two, to hold the cord.  The holes are usually hidden within the design.   As in any other field of collecting people are only interested in famous names, but  an unsigned and unidentified masterpiece is a better buy than a poorly designed signed work, however highly rated the name of the artist may be.

A good piece by Kaigyoku Masatsugu could fetch £40,000, for example, but a poor work of this artist would only fetch about £1000.  Few early netsuke's are signed, but there are exceptions and experts can often tell the artist style in an unsigned piece.  Subject matter is also important, with rarer subjects, centipedes, goats, for example fetch high prices, because of the small size of the netsuke, the tiniest chip is a serious mark, but if there are signs of normal ware this is acceptable., and if there is a good patina this increases the value.

Ivory darkens naturally with age, but it can also be artificially stained.  Many netsuke's show the Japanese had a sense of  humour, particularly with the grotesque.   Contorted faces based on professional face pullers were a favourite subject, and by the end of the 18th century caricatures  of Europeans started to appear.  The early netsuke artists preferred to show mythological figures.

Netsuke's are keenly collected today and have a strong following throughout the world, with the surprisingly exception of Japan itself, although interest is growing among collectors there.  Prices vary from a few hundred to the thousands.

It was later that the Japanese took increasingly to Western dress in the 19th century, and the demand for the netsuke was beginning to lessen and carvers started to turn to producing the okimono,  these were decorative standing figures for foreign markets.   At first the okimono was no bigger than the netsuke, but were gradually made larger, many still in keeping with the cord holes in the base.

Some ivory okimono sow outstanding craftsmanship,  with shibayama inlays or tortoise shell, coral, mother of pearl or coconut shell.  Shibayama carvings are usually sectional, with separate carved pieces joined together by pegs and fish glue, these pieces commonly come apart, but can easily be rejoined at no loss of value. Prices can range from   £300.00 to £5000.00.

Other sectional carvings were made from left over parts of other carvings, although some are signed, they are usually by unskilled carvers and of poor quality.  Pieces can be found for as little as £30.00.  Large numbers of group carvings in walrus or morse Ivory are also available, these usually represent subjects such as peasants and fishermen.  Generally these works are poor quality and fetch around £100 to £300 .

You can tell the difference between ivory and walrus by its granular  core, although this may be disguised by cross hatching and staining on the base of the piece.  Carvers also made differing functional pieces such as Vases, letter openers, handles for umbrellas and knifes, also game counters, all of which are sought by collectors.

The best carvings to come from Japan are from the Tokyo School of Art, founded in 1887 with the aim of combining the traditional skills and Western influences, Most Tokyo carvings are quite large (10 inches) (25 cm) or more high and carved from a single section of tusk, often with the rough outside showing on the base.

The most popular subject being samurai, pheasants, and fishermen.  Prices can range from £1000 and up to £20,000 sometimes more, differing according to the quality, condition and appeal of a particular piece.  Japanese collectors favour samurai, and mythological subjects.