After the Meiji Restoration (1868), many traditional artisans lost their patrons and were forced to re-shape their artistic activities in order to adjust to Western tastes. Among the most popular new artisans in the Meiji era were the ivory carvers. The art of large ivory carving quickly developed in the 1880s and lasted for about a decade. Especially welcomed by foreigners, Meiji ivory sculpture became the most popular Japanese craft at the world expositions as well as in the Western market. There are several varieties of iris in Japan, both wild and cultivated. The flower was appreciated for its medicinal benefits, its inherent beauty but also for its poetic association founded in the 9th century romance, Tales of Ise.