Beautiful Japanese iPhone Cases priced higher than the iPhone itself

The Japan Texture series of cases for the iPhone feature some breathtakingly beautiful Japanese art. They look lovely and are historically accurate. It all sounds good so far, but you have to remember that these cases cost more than an iPhone. This doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you pay more for the case than you did for the phone? Anyway, there are five case designs that depict art of the Sengoku period and they come with a storage box if you feel that it needs protecting. I thought the cases are meant to protect and don't need any protection. I suppose if they arre covered in lacquer and gold dust, they do. The price of a single case is $1000. Yeah, right, moving along.