Fabulous family fresco

With this book, Edmund de Waal narrates the life of his family by following the journey of a collection of netsuke from Paris to Japan, that over a period of about 100 years. It is indeed following these 264 pieces he tells us the story of his family, the Ephrussi family, including through Odessa, Paris, Vienna, Štrkovec (Kövecses), Tunbridge Wells and Tokyo. The netsuke, these small finely carved figurines seem fragile and yet strong sound. It's a bit the fate of the Jewish family that has passed through many sorrows but has finally been able to withstand the ravages of history.

Thus, in these pages, we follow these figurines according to their owners. In Paris, with Charles, who has bought them, we can rub shoulders with the great Impressionist painters and famous writers of the second half of the nineteenth century. Viktor and Emmy, we relive the heyday of Vienna and much darker ones of the Anschluss will force the family to leave Austria, leaving everything behind, including netsuke. Yet at the end of the war these netsuke resurface to win England. This is where they will come away from where they arrived, Japan.

A book to recommend to all those and all those who love family frescoes.