Experts say this represents an enduring and growing fascination in the West for the intricate, well-crafted possessions that formed part of traditional attire up to the 19th century.
Dealers in London are witnessing growing interest from buyers in Japanese antique netsuke and ''inro'' as new world records are set at auctions.
London-based auction house Bonhams announced world record prices for a netsuke (a miniature carved ornament once used to attach purses or other articles to kimono sashes) and an inro (traditional Japanese portable case consisting of nested boxes) at the November sale of a collection belonging to Swiss art enthusiast Harriet Szechenyi.
