Max Rutherston has specialized in Japanese works of art for 26 years, and netsuke for the last 16. Over his career he has run the Japanese department at Sotheby's as well as the Japanese side of Asian Art dealers Sydney L Moss. He was Chairman of Asian Art in London for four years and is currently chairman of the Japanese vetting committee of the Masterpiece fair. He is a regular author of articles on netsuke, and has lectured at home and abroad in Russian, Italian and French..