Back to our story...In Vienna the netsuke are rescued from the Nazi’s by the Ephrussi’s loyal maid, Anna, who stuffs them into her mattress. Soldiers storm through the Ephrussi Palais stripping the walls of paintings and emptying the cabinets of silver and porcelain but they do not steal the netsuke.
Phew! they're safe. It is perhaps the one small thing Anna can save to pass on to the Ephrussi children.
After the war when the daughter, Elizabeth, visits Vienna, Anna returns the netsuke to her. A welcome gift bringing back happy childhood memories. After returning to England,her new home, she shares them with her brother, Iggie.
At this point Iggie has been offered jobs in Japan or another country. The netsuke seem to persuade him to pick Japan. He wants to take them back to their home.
It is a good decision. Although Japan is a mess after WWII, he enjoys the country, meets his life partner, Jiro, and becomes a successful banker, like his father.
Our author, Edmund De Waal, visits Iggie in Japan and is first introduced to the family's netsuke collection. Iggie has begun research to discover who has made these small carved figures.
“This is when the netsuke carvers regain their names and start to become people with families, craftsmen in a particular landscape.”
He has catalogued the collection and it is “surprisingly valuable.” Several pieces where made by well known and respected artists.
After Iggie’s death De Waal inherits the collection. As an artist he appreciates their unique "beauty". In England, another new home, they are enjoyed by his children and family.
But once again the netsuke cannot sit quiet or peacefully in their glass display case. For De Waal the netsuke propel him on this journey to discover his family history and write the book, The Hare With Amber Eyes.
Perhaps we should just call them Japanese "action figures" since they do seem to prod their owners to "act".
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