Ornately carved netsuke toggles were once a key part of Japanese fashion and were made in all sorts of elaborate designs. Why were skeletons popular subjects? Find out in this short, one-minute video. Carved wood netsuke, 19th century Japan. #AshmoleanfromHome #AshmoleanMuseum | Ashmolean Museum

Just over a week left to see Masterpieces in Miniature: The Art of Netsuke Sculptures! In the world of netsuke, form and function meet to produce wonder and joy. Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, these miniature carvings invite one to experience Japanese culture from the nation’s vibrant Edo period (1603–1868). Netsuke (pronounced nets-keh) were personal fashion accessories worn on the sash of a man’s kimono and reflect the ingenuity of their craftspeople, featuring designs filled with