Netsuke and okimono

Netsuke are small figures skillfully carved from ivory, walrus tusks, wood, tree roots, tortoise shells, deer horns; more rarely from corals, amber, nephritis, soap stone or metal. Netsuke were usually small (2-3 – 15 cm) and had practical use. Since the Japanese male costume did not have pockets, men held small objects (for example, medicine) in varnished boxes (inro) (women used kimono sleeves for this purpose). These boxes were attached to the waist with a cord and netsukes were used as counterweight.

Carvers could fully express their artistic imagination when working on netsukes. The following types of netsuke could be distinguished: katabori (carved figure); kagamibuta (“case for a mirror” – a figure in the form of a flat vessel with decorative metal cover); mandzyu (“rice flat cake” – a netsuke which reminded of a flat round cake or a button); sasi (“a stick for stirring rice” – long netsuke). Netsuke making faded in the Meiji era when the traditional Japanese costume was replaced by European clothes.

Okimono literary means “installed object”. Okimono is a general name for all small sculptures designed for decorating interiors. Okimono is often similar to netsuke in shape and themes, but there is no hole for a cord which all netsukes have.

	Netsuke presenting a mouse on umbrella. Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.		Netsuke presenting three rabbits. Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.