Art of Carving Netsuke, The
Netsuke is an interesting art form of carving originating (I believe) in Japan that has gained some popularity in this hemisphere. Peter Benson shows you how it's done. Pronounced net- soo-key, author Benson has written the definitive book on carving netsuke. Once considered utilitarian kimono accessories, netsuke is now small carvings and works of art meant for eye appeal. Benson goes into great detail and illustrates the carving of nine unique and interesting designs. A variety of materials are used from ivory, wood, animal horn, amber, and even stone and the author shows you how it is all done.  There is an excellent list of tools and other materials to get you started and Benson walks you through the various processes. The author has a penchant for animals such as a snake, toad, rabbit, dormouse, turtledove and fish and just for variety, he throws in an apple and mask. All however, intriguing and beautiful.THE ART OF CARVING NETSUKE, by Peter Benson, is a guide to making miniature sculptures that were invented in 17th-century Japan to serve a practical purpose. It features nine projects and detailed instruction for carving realistic impressions of scales, feathers, fur, hair and more. The introduction provides a fairly thorough history of netsuke, while a gallery section shows exceptional work by netsuke carvers from around the world. Benson has been carving for more than 60 years and currently teaches carving at the Essex School of Woodcarving in Great Britain.Packed with full-size patterns, step-by-step instructions - a nice departure from the usual use of photographs - you too can craft a wonderful instrument.