[edward_k]

If you only could have three netsuke/carving books which would they be ?

I have no books and was trying to get some more knowledge by buying a few so thought I'd ask here for recommendations. So if you were stuck on a desert island which three would you choose ?!

I'm just trying to get a good foundation type list to have a hunt for...

Thanks
Ed

[Debbie]

Clive, on Feb 25 2008, 01:02 AM, said:

Hi Edward,

You don't say if your interest is from an creative point of view or as a collector/student...

For antique netsuke... Raymond Bushells "Collectors netsuke" takes some beating. It gives a good foundation into the major carving schools, the primary artists and thier styles of work.

For an insight into the traditional Japanese approach to netsuke carving.... "The Art of Netsuke Carving" by Masatoshi as told to Raymond Bushell.

The "Language of Sculpture" by William Tucker is a good appreciation of modern developments in sculpture.

Regards
Clive

I agree Clive those are a very good sellection!

[edward_k]

Hi Clive - sorry I should have mentioned that ! I'm more interested in making work but also I think it's important to understand context and history. I think that collecting them would be good but out of my price range at the moment

I found a new copy of the Masatoshi/Bushell book 'The Art of Netsuke Carving' on eBay for about £44 shipped so decided to get a copy (this seems alot for a book but as Janel pointed out it was something like $125 when it came out - and this is allegedly a new copy).

I've read the Julia Hutt book (Japanese Netsuke: Victoria and Albert Museum) and think that this is fair introduction, at any rate I think I found more value and information in it than a book I read by Edward Symmes (Netsuke: Japanese Life and Legend in Minature) which seemed to be more pictures in strange settings.

Anyway - I'll look for the other books recommended. Are there any good current books (i.e. available from Amazon) that stand out ? Maybe in the £20 range ? (someone wants to give me one )

I looked on Amazon.co.uk for the 'Collector's Netsuke' book but it is out of print... this is fine but means I end up spending say £20 to £30 on a copy from the secondhand USA bookshops plus £20 postage ... adds up a bit.

I was looking at the more expensive ones on Amazon too with a view to buying them in the long term as no doubt they will go out of print sooner or later and then be hard/expensive to get hold of.
Are these any good ?
The Inro Handbook (Inro)

Netsuke:4 Centries of masterpieces: Trump Collection (Trump)


Thanks
Ed

[edward_k]

Well the "The Art of Netsuke Carving" by Masatoshi book arrived last night and it is very good - I've flicked through it (brand new as stated on eBay) and started to read the first chapter - fascinating and also bringing back some good memories of life in Japan - natsukashi ne...

Ed

[Janel]

Thanks for the good news! I wondered if you received it.

Janel

[Hako]

Hallo

you can search in antiquario.de and let a netsukebook send from Germany ???

I prefer The Netsuke Handbook of Ueda Reikichi by Bushell.

Its written by a Japanese !!


Good hunting
Hako

[DCallaghan]

Hako, on Jul 28 2008, 04:28 AM, said:

Hallo

you can search in antiquario.de and let a netsukebook send from Germany ???

I prefer The Netsuke Handbook of Ueda Reikichi by Bushell.

Its written by a Japanese !!
Good hunting
Hako

abebooks has a search engine for independent used book dealers. I believe they originally started in Canada but are now in a number of countries. You could get reading copies of collector copies and would have access to thousand of dealers stock.

Good hunting.

David

[edward_k]

Hey, ordered this from the library for 50p :

Inro Handbook: Studies of Netsuke, Inro, and Laquer by Raymond Bushell

I am curious to read it but it is listed at 50 quid on amazonso went with the library (great ordering service)

Had a look for the LACMA Bushell book on amazon but it is only available on the dot com version rather than the dot co dot uk one... Is this a good one to get ? Thanks
Ed