Netsuke Carving

Hard Wood Stand of Netsuke,Snuff bottle,Carving WD19
$6.99

Japanese handwork boxwood netsuke carving Monkey
$1.91

Netsuke Carving

Netsuke Carving

Netsuke

Japanese netsuke are excellent small sizes, mostly made of ivory or wood, such as manipulation of pieces, or alternately. Thus that a good way to judge a good netsuke is to handle it – should feel very comfortable and very interesting, in hand, with no sharp edges Netsuke are often only about one inch high, however, these tiny sculptures are carved very powerfully and so full of character.

Each netsuke always have a couple of holes bound (or a deliberate difference often between a tail or leg) of a cable attached to it that could be used as a lever. Then they were more often associated with a Inro. However, there are many collectors that only collect netsuke without possessing any Inro.

Inro and Ojima

So What is a Inro? These are finely containers decorated lacquer, which consists of an interlocking series of compartments (usually between 3 to 6 sections), all united in a rope. A Ojima (pearl decorative) was rowed in the string that once pushed down towards the Inro, maintains all closed compartments. Ojima can be exquisitely carved metal, ivory or stone beads. These Inro were used to carry small personal items such as seals and pads and it became fashionable with the kimono.

The kimono had no pockets so the Inro, closed by Ojima, would be carried hanging from the band, the netsuke then pushed under the band, thereby capturing and holding the Inro instead.

The work of Japanese Lacquer Inro is so beautiful, however, it is difficult to work half as well be a time consuming process. Not only involves the construction a large number of layers before any decorative work can be entered, but there are then several different very fine skills needed to complete decoration. Techniques involve the use of colored lacquer, shell inlay, metal work and striking applications of small pieces of gold. What is extraordinary also, is that you have completed the decor, lacquer and any metal, or shell decoration, it can often be very thick, but all the sections fit together Inro it so smoothly that when you close the Inro, all one can see, are very fine lines that are actually dividing the differences between the different compartments.

The designs used by the lacquer artists were not only very finely executed, but often deliberately worked on both sides of the so Inro of make the most curiosity – and forcing a want to convert the Inro to see what's on the other side.

What does seem a pity that these days is that there are collectors who only collect netsuke, or Inro, some even collect only Ojima! No doubt this has much to do with the rising costs of these treasures, but in fact these particular antiques, all the Japanese hand. It's much more satisfying to find the ideal and Ojima netsuke that relate well, along with a favorite Inro. Simply owning a Inro and Ojima (often sold together), but makes a netsuke Inro seems so incomplete.

About the Author:

John N. Cohen A past director of Jacey Cinemas Ltd. Later the proprietor of a design & photographic studio, now a director of Jacey Homes Ltd., a property development company. Interests and Hobbies: A top international award winning photographer who also became a well known Asian antiques collector and an enthusiast of Jensen British classic cars. Other interests are skiing and Salsa dancing.

For John’s other interests please have a look at: – http://www.jncohen.net

To see more articles with photographs please use the following link: -
http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm

For more about Netsuke and inro please use the following link: -
http://www.jncohen.net/Netsuke/index.htm

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Netsuke & Inro Really Belong Together!

Hard Wood Stand of Netsuke,Snuff bottle,Carving WD19
$6.99

Japanese handwork boxwood netsuke carving Monkey
$1.91