Ojime,
Netsuke,
and Inro Boxes
For a Complete
List of Ojime available,
Page 1,
Page 2,
Page 3,
a new page will open.
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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Ojime |
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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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Ojime
Sizes range from 3/4 to 1 inch.
$19.00
Click picture to view details
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Lazing Water Buffalo
0059
Bullfrog
0020
Snake
0044
Bulldog
0069
Prosperity Frog
0008
Prosperity, happiness,
good luck and
fertility
Mouse
0039
Bat
0037
Hippopotamus Couple
0078
Turtle and Egg
0025
Longevity, strength,
and happiness.
Frog On Lily Pad
0002
Prosperity, happiness,
good luck and
fertility
Double Fish
0015
Harmony, charm against evil,
freedom from restraint
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Dragon
0034
Whale
0019
Abundance, health
and happiness
Puppy With Ball
0070
Cicada
0062
Longevity, innocence, purity
and eternal youth
Cat
0068
Horse
0038
Monkey On Turtle
0023
Frog On Bamboo
0003
Prosperity, happiness,
good luck and
fertility
Circling
Mermaid
0064
Eternal grace and beauty.
She cries tears of pearls
and
takes away all the pain
of those who look on her.
Rabbit
0047
Dragon
0035
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Seal
0071
Monkey On Horse
0028
Crab
0021
Foresight and bravery
Hippopotamus
0053
Owl
0052
Octopus
0055
Elephant
0043
Turtle
0022
Longevity, strength,
and happiness.
Rooster
0042
Frog With Flute
Prosperity, happiness,
good luck and
fertility
Tiger
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For a Complete
List of Ojime available,
Page 1,
Page 2,
Page 3,
a new page will open.
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 Last page update:
6/28/2012 |
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