The so-called fossil ivory from which these carvings were made is highly prized even today and, when found, is invariably turned into beautiful carvings that gain value because of the scarce, richly colourful raw material.
There are also special versions of the squatting figure that seem to belong especially to important magical crafts, such as the Javanese kris handle, on which miniature carvings can give an extraordinarily monumental effect.
The engravings upon which the carvings are based were commonplace in Scotland at the time, and were frequently used in the art of memory, a mnemonic memory technique associated with Freemasonry.
The netsuke of the title are small, exquisite Japanese carvings, which Akiko and the analyst collect.
It has a great many stone carvings, which amused her, especially some of devils.
To the modern eye they look like fairly crude stone carvings – which is exactly what they are.
(On August 18th, Big Boi retweeted a story about removing the carvings, which at least one candidate for governor has endorsed).
The Taino culture is famous for these zemi carvings, which are found in many of the islands, notably Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.
In parish churches such as Iffley near Oxford, there are decorative, almost playful zigzag patterns and lively carvings which, at Kilpeck in Herefordshire, become comic and bawdy.
Decoration All the art on walls is done by Helen, the bar and the wood carvings which decorate the restaurant are all Stefano's work.
