Netsuke and Okimono

Netsuke are decoratively carved toggles originally used to counterweight a gentleman’s inro (medicine/tobacco container) from his obi (belt). They are highly detailed and carved in the round, when photographing them the angle is key.

Okimono are generally ornaments with no other use but for display in the home. In this gallery you will also find examples of Jizai Okimono which are articulated figures often made of iron or bronze and in the case of the viper, wood.

These incredibly intricate models of dragons and insects can be tricky to stage and without help can appear to be sleeping. When positioned correctly they regain dynamism and life.

A Copper Articulated Model of a Hornet Signed Muneyoshi (under the left wing), Taisho - Showa period (early 20th century)
A Wood Netsuke of Two Rats Signed Ikkan (1817-1893), Nagoya, Edo period (19th century)
An Articulated Copper Model of a Crab
An Iron Articulated Model of a Dragon
A Silvered-Copper Articulated Model of a Spiny Lobster (Ise Ebi) Meiji period (late 19th century)
A Bronze Sculpture of Jurojin
An Ivory and Wood Netsuke of Jesus Disguised as Buddha
A FINE WOOD OKIMONO [SCULPTURAL ORNAMENT], SIGNED SUKEKAZU, MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY)
A BRONZE OKIMONO OF A COCKEREL AND HEN
UNNO BISEI (1864-1919), A BRONZE OKIMONO OF A BULL
A Wood Articulated Model of a Snake Signed Masakazu, Meiji period (late 19th century)
A BAMBOO TEA SCOOP, SIGNED NANAJU-ROKU O SHAKOSAI KORE (O) TSUKURU, [MADE BY SHOKOSAI (HAYAKAWA SHOKOSAI I, 1815-1897) AT THE AGE OF 76]
A Copper Powder Flask in the Form of a Cicada, Meiji period (late 19th century)
A Wood Netsuke of a Hare, Signed on an oval reserve Hidari Issan, Iwashiro, Edo period (19th century)
A Fine Ivory Netsuke of a Sleeping Wild Boar Signed Kaigyokusai Masatsugu (1813-1892), Osaka, Edo period (19th century)
An Ivory Netsuke of a Sage on a Crane, Signed Ikko (Hasegawa Ikko), Tsu, Edo period (early 19th century)
An Ivory Netsuke of a Warrior
An Ivory Netsuke depicting a boy seated on an ox playing a flute
A Silver Articulated Model of a Cicada, Signed Muneyoshi (under the wing), Taisho-Showa period (early 20th century)
An Ivory Netsuke of a Reclining Stag Edo period (late 18th century)
AN IVORY NETSUKE OF A KARASHISHI [LION DOG], SIGNED JI-ICHI (HARUKAZU), EDO PERIOD (PROBABLY LATE 18TH CENTURY)
A WOOD NETSUKE OF A WILD BOAR, SIGNED ICHIGYOKU TO, EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)
A Wood and Inlaid Metal Netsuke of Two Snails and Ants Unsigned, attributed to Ganbun (Mebun), Edo period (early 19th century)
An Ivory Netsuke of a Woman Cutting Her Toenails Signed Yasufusa, Tokyo, Taisho period (early 20th century)
A Myochin-School Iron Articulated Model of a Dragon, Signed Myochin Nobumasa, Edo period (18th-19th century)
A Copper Articulated Model of a Mantis, Signed Munenobu (under the abdomen), Meiji - Taisho period (late 19th - early 20th century)
A Shibuichi Articulated Model of a Long-horned Beetle, Signed Muneyoshi (under the inner, right wing), Taisho-Showa period (early 20th century)