metal foiling. Though and evolved out of a mostly decorative capacity, retained their functionality, having evolved from strictly utilitarian articles into objects of high art and immense craftsmanship. For a period of time in the Edo period, was also used as a symbol of power. Today, among sumo referees (), only of the higher ranks are allowed to equip . Today, many are collected in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Because were popular among foreign collectors, there were few of the highest quality made from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period in Japan, but Masayuki Murata actively collected them from the 21st century, and today the Kiyomizu Sannenzaka Museum, which he manages, houses many of the highest quality . Today, are made by a few craftsmen. The best lacquer technique from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, especially the technique, was almost lost in the westernization of Japanese lifestyle. However, in 1985 lacquer craftsman set up his own studio and succeeded in recreating them. His lacquer works are collected in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and are an object of collection for the world's wealthy. Nowadays, are rarely worn as kimono accessories, but there are collectors all over the world. Gallery See also Sporran (Scottish) References Bushell, Raymond "The Handbook", Weatherhill, 2002. "Legend in Japanese Art" by Henri L. Joly; 1908/1967; Charles E. Tuttle, Rutland VT; External links Netsuke: masterpieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains many examples of Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery Fashion accessories Japanese lacquerware Japanese words and phrases Japanese woodwork Nested containers Medicine storage containers