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.

Turtle
in0001
The turtle represents longevity, strength, and happiness.
This turtle inro box with accompanying netsuke and ojime seems real enough
 to move.
2 1/4" x 3 3/4"

Crane
in0004
Reverse Side
This inro box has four compartments and depicts the graceful, pensive crane on one side, and three cranes in flight on the other. In Japanese culture, the crane symbolizes beauty, grace, longevity,
 and wisdom.
2" x 2 3/4"

Mermaid
in0007
Reverse Side
The Japanese mermaid, Ningyo, symbolizes eternal grace and beauty. She cries tears of pearls and takes away all the pain of those who look on her.
 1 3/4" x 2 1/4"

Frog
in0010
This frog shaped inro box has a sliding frog-ojime bead,
and a frog on a lotus-pod netsuke bead.
In Japan the frog stands for prosperity, happiness,
 good luck, and fertility.
2" x 2 3/4"

Hello Kitty
in0012
Handcarved boxwood inro box in the shape of the hello-kitty, in the gesture of drawing prosperity.
2" x 3 1/4 "

Rabbits
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Handcarved boxwood Inro box
with bunny rabbits.
1 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Frogs
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Traditional handcarved boxwood ojime with carved frogs on
lily pads.
1 1/4" x 2 1/4"

Owl
in0021
Handcarved boxwood Inro box featuring an Owl, the bird of wisdom, seated on a branch on
one side and in-flight on the reverse.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Fish and Crab
in0002
Detailed Picture
Side 1          Side 2
Smaller Picture
Side 1          Side 2
Fish inro box with crab netsuke. In Japanese philosophy, because of the fish's ability to move effortlessly in any direction through water, it is a Buddhist symbol of complete freedom from restraint.
2" x 4 1/2"

Dragonfly
in0005
Reverse Side
Dragonfly box with four separate compartments.
In Japan the dragonfly symbolizes victory.
2" x 2 3/4"

Snake
in0008
Reverse Side
This inro with three compartments has two cobra snakes in combat,
 and a sliding snake ojime,
 and snake netsuke atop
 the ensemble.
 1 3/4" x 2 1/4"

Cat
in0011
This inro box is shaped like a cat,
 and has the famous hello-kitty prosperity cat as ojime bead.
2" x 3 1/4"

Crane
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Handcarved boxwood Inro box with three compartments depicting the graceful crane.
1 1/2" x 2 1/2 "

Bats
in0016
Large handcarved boxwood Inro box with carved bats in flight.  Bats traditionally represent longevity and happiness.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Zodiac Ball
in0019
Unusual handcarved boxwood Inro Box, featuring all twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac intertwined.
2 1/4" diameter

Turtles
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Handcarved boxwood Inro with carved turtles symbolizing longevity in Chinese astrology.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Cicada
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Handcarved boxwood Inro box with carved Cicadas.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Smaller Pic         Smaller Pic
Cicada
in0003
This cicada inro box has a cicada netsuke bead and sliding cicada ojime bead to fasten the lid closed.
In Japanese philosophy,
the cicada is a symbol of longevity, innocence, purity,
 and eternal youth.
2" x 4 1/4"

Smaller Pic


Smaller Pic
Crab and Octopus
in0006
This intricately carved inro box.
On one side you see a crab and when you reverse it you can see that it is wrapped by an octopus.
In Japanese philosophy the crab represented foresight and bravery.
 2 1/2" x 3 1/4"

Dragon
in0009
The dragon symbolizes the powers and functions of nature and the spirit of growth and change.
It embodies both the male and female principles and stands for wisdom, strength, goodness,
 and omnipotence.
1 3/4" x 2 1/4"

Three Monkeys
in011a
Three beautifully carved boxwood monkeys as a visual interpretation of the proverb hear no evil,
 see no evil, speak no evil.
There mixed ideas as to the origins of the phrase and some contend that it serves as a reminder not to be so snoopy, so nosy,
 and so gossipy.
Others believe the message is that a person who is not exposed to evil (through sight or sound)
 will not reflect that evil in their own speech and actions.

Rabbit
in0014
Large handcarved boxwood Inro Box with rabbits at play.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Bats
in0017
Small handcarved boxwood Inro box with carved bats in flight.
Bats traditionally represent longevity and happiness.
1 1/2" x 2 1/2"

Elephant
in0020
Handcarved barrel-shaped boxwood Inro box with carved elephants and three compartments.
2" x 2 1/2"

Rooster
in0023
Handcarved boxwood Inro box with a rooster on one side and feeding chicks on the reverse.
2 1/4" x 3 1/4"