Ojime,
Netsuke,
and Inro Boxes
For a Complete
List of Netsuke available,
Page 1,
Page 2,
a new page will open.
When items are
"ON ORDER"
or
"SOLD",
please call for availability,
707.884.3153.
Note:
Not all items are
available and may
need to be ordered,
lead time may be
2 to 4 weeks.
Please keep in mind,
these are handmade so there may be a delay in receiving your order,
if not in stock.
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Celebrations
Antiques and Fine
Gifts since 1988 |
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Netsuke |
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Since
traditional kimonos have no pockets, Japanese men and women would
wear a compartmentalized box called an
Inro hung
below the obi, a wide fabric kimono belt, on a double cord.
At the top of the cord, a large carved bead called netsuke
(pronounced nets-key) acted as a toggle to anchor the inro
with the cord passing under the obi.
The smaller
ojime
(pronounced oh-jay-meh, and used for both singular and plural)
bead
served as a sliding closure to secure the lid of the inro.
Since the netsuke sits atop the obi, it usually
appears to be upside-down when strung as a necklace pendant,
unless the designer strings through an open area rather than the
hole or uses wirework to correct its orientation.
These hand carved boxwood beads reveal exquisite detail, and
complicated undercuts.
Some skeptics suspect they are cast
replicas, as the material and carvings seem too flawless
to be
original handwork.
But it is the exceptionally tight grain
of boxwood that allows for such intricate carving,
coupled with
the skill of master wood carvers who can create such lifelike and
personable creatures.
These
carvings are produced in the Heibei Province of China. After
ivory was banned in the mid-1980's, boxwood was recently
rediscovered. Although different in color, it has a density
and fine grain suitable for ivory-like detail. A master
carver first creates 5-10 ojime designs. Fellow
artists use these master beads as a reference for their own
carvings.
Contemporary Chinese Master-Carvers take up to four hours to make
each one, and are individually signed by the artists who carved
them. The completed beads are hand polished and waxed one
more time to insure brightness and durability.
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Netsuke
Sizes range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches.
Below are
Netsuke at
$30.00
each.
After
your REVIEW of products,
the "Add To Cart" Button will ask which design you would like
to purchase.
Click
picture to show details OR Click description for
smaller picture
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Bat In Flight
Crab
--SOLD--
Foresight and bravery
5 Turtles On Top
Turtles, the symbols of longevity, strength,
and happiness.
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Skull
Swan
Horse Standing
Horse Laying Down
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2 Frogs on a Lily Pad
Double Fish
--SOLD--
Harmony, charm against evil,
freedom from restraint
Rabbit
--SOLD--
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Last page update: 6/3/2009 |
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