What is Japanese Okimono?
Okimono (置物, oki-mono) is a Japanese term meaning “ornament for display; objet d’art; decorative object”, typically displayed in a tokonoma alcove or butsudan altar.
What is a netsuke figurine?
A netsuke (根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.
What are the requirements for netsuke?
Formally, netsuke have few requirements: they must be small, they must have holes through which to pass a single cord, and they must have no protuberances that could damage one’s kimono. Everything else is left to the carver’s imagination.
How does a netsuke work?
A netsuke (‘root-fix) was attached to the end of a small decorative container called an inro, stopping the weight of the inro from slipping through the waist sash (obi). The cord was passed round the back of the sash, and the netsuke hooked over the edge.
How much is my netsuke worth?
Factors that contribute to the value of a netsuke are authenticity, the skill of the artisan, the condition, and if signed, the name of the artist. The most difficult of these to determine is authenticity, as ageing can be faked, and it takes a long period of study of the netsuke to become competent in this area.
How can you tell a fake netsuke?
Signs of a Fake, Forgery, or Reproduction:
- Netsuke without the patina indicating years of handling.
- Cord holes with sharp, unworn edges indicate a modern piece.
- Cracks in ivory running at an angle to the natural grain are manmade.
- Parts carved after a natural crack formed indicate modern carving on old ivory.
What art form is a Japanese netsuke?
sculpture
A netsuke is a small sculpture which developed as an art form in Japan over a period of more than three hundred years. Netsuke originally served both functional and aesthetic purposes, but in modern times they have become extremely collectable.
Are netsuke expensive?
The auction market for netsuke, although strong, has not registered the six-figure prices seen in dealers shops. Beasley, a British businessman who died before World War II, the most costly netsuke was a wood carving of a kirin, a mythological creature – part dragon, horse and lion – that brought $33,000.
How many netsuke are there?
600 netsuke
There are a total of 600 netsuke in the collection, which are regularly rotated into the exhibition. Numerous United States museums have netsuke collections, but they usually exhibit just a few at a time. The British Museum in London also has a permanent exhibition of netsuke from the A.H. Grundy collection.
What are okimono ivory figurines?
Okimono ivory figurines are Japanese works of art that date back to the Edo period (1615-1868) but gained popularity in the Meiji period (1868-1912). During this period, American trading vessels began sailing to Japan from New England, where marine ivory scrimshaw carvings were well known.
What is okimono and the Meiji Restoration?
These small but beautiful works of art are generally too small to be classified as Okimono and in any event were primarily functional. And so we arrive at the Meiji Restoration with Japan having a well established history of superb carvers going back hundreds of years.
Why are Okimonos so popular in Japan?
That trading route came to greatly influence a demand for Japanese works of art such as netsuke – miniature sculptures made from Japanese carved ivory that represent the culture’s habits and mythology. Due to this new demand, Japanese metalworkers began to create okimonos to appeal to the Western audience.
Who are some of the best okimono artists?
Fine ivory carvings by such notable okimono artists as Gyokuzan, Mitsuji, Yoshiyuki & Meigyoku are featured in the Villa Del Prado Ivory Collection . Ivory has had great religious significance to many cultures throughout history.
