Netsuke, decorative sash toggles worn by Japanese men, attracted the curiosity of Europeans already in the late 19th century. Today these delightful art objects are coveted by collectors throughout the world.

Netsuke motifs encompass mythical beings, vernacular deities, characters from legends and everyday life, foreigners, animals and plants. Consummate mastery of the carver's craft in a great variety of materials, among them wood, ivory, horn, coral, tortoiseshell and lacquer, distinguishes these miniature works of art. The masterpieces created by famous carvers like Yoshimura Shûzan (1700–1773) and Ohara Mitsuhiro (1810–1878) shaped aesthetic developments in this art medium.

In this publication, 112 selected objects from the Trumpf collection, one of the major Netsuke collections in Europe and now on display at the Linden-Museum Stuttgart, are presented. The book shows the state of scientific investigation into Netsuke and is an essential reference for collectors and connoisseurs of Netsuke.