Carving out a market for items of yesteryear

Japanese Trio

Vivienne Milburn looks at models made by prisoners – and amazing carvings from another era.

LOOKING BACK, I am sure we all now believe that it would have been better if artists and craftsmen had put their efforts into carving something from a renewable source other than ivory. However, this is not the case – and we are left with some incredibly intricate and beautiful items made from ivory. The Japanese are probably the best in the world at such intricate carving  – and it is the quality of the workmanship that makes an item of value. In fact, many of the items I value would be just as valuable if they were made from boxwood or stone…