Fifty-eight diminutive nestsuke offered from the collection of the late Adrienne Barbanson auctioned at Bonhams London on May 13.

The auction, which drew throngs of bidders, was a "white glove" sale, with 100% of lots sold.

Good things come in small packages – this little hare sold for £43,250 ($65,833)

Masters of miniaturisation, Japanese craftspeople carved tiny netsuke from wood, ivory and coral, which were used to anchor dangling pouches (also known as "inro") to the sashes of a kimono.

Auction highlights included a Lilliputian depiction of three monkeys by Toyomasa, which sold for £63,350 ($96,450), and a fine wooden hare netsuke, also by Toyomasa, which brought £43,250 ($65,833).

Bonhams' Susannah Yip comments: "Netsuke, like diamonds, prove that some of the most desirable things come in small packages."

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