Ojime Beads, Netsuke and Inro Box Carvings; Modern Jewelry and Bead Works at Trinidad Trading Company

Ojime Beads, Netsuke and Inro Box Carvings; Modern Jewelry and Bead Works at Trinidad Trading Company

Ojime Beads are Carvings

Ojime (pronounced oh-jay-meh and used for both singular and plural) are special beads that have an instant power to mesmerize many people. Their immediate impression is that of animated charm, and one is drawn to take a much closer look. The ojime are small, beautifully proportioned carvings in boxwood that 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.

Ojime Beads Among the Most Valuable Beads in the World

Ojime have a rich tradition in Japanese culture and were often carved in elephant ivory. They were also made from glass, lacquer, tortoiseshell, whale molars, coral, silver, gold, jade, and other precious materials. Antique ojime are highly collectible. These miniature treasures are among the most valuable beads worldwide.

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 a netsuke (pronounced nets-kay) acted as a toggle to anchor the inro with the cord passing under the obi. The smaller ojime 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.

History of the Ojime Bead and Inro Boxes

From their origins in the Edo Period (1654-1868), compartmentalized inro boxes were used to carry medicinal herbs, acupuncture needles, and related personal items. In the beginning, ojime were simple beads, serving purely as a sliding closure above the inro. It was later, during the Meiji Period (1868-1912), that inro became symbols of status and taste, and ojime evolved into beautifully sculpted, complex, and challenging expressions of the craftman's art.

Symbolism of Ojime Beads

Designs incorporated everyday life, myth, tradition, poetry, nature, and whimsy. Images included animals, sea creatures, dragons, flowers, and deities. Special ojime made of precious materials such as narwhal tusk, rhinoceros horn, hornbill, and jade were believed to have magical and protective properties inherent in the material as well as in the symbolism of the carving. For example, paired fish, which symbolize harmony, could serve as a charm against evil. Because the fish can move effortlessly in any direction through water, it is a Buddhist symbol of freedom from restraint. The crab represents foresight and bravery; the whale symbolizes abundance, health and happiness; and the frog stands for prosperity, happiness, good luck, and fertility. The dragonfly represents victory; the cicada symbolizes longevity, innocence, purity, and eternal youth. The mermaid is a symbol of eternal grace and beauty. She cries tears of pearls and takes away all the pain of those ho look on her. The dragon represents the powers and functions of nature and the spirit of growth and change. It embodies both the male and female principles and stands for wisdom, strength, goodness, and omnipotence.

How Ojime Beads are Made

These carvings are produced in the Heibei Province of China. After ivory was banned in the mid-1980s, many materials with comparable hardness were explored, but with only marginal success. Occasionally used in traditional Japanese ojime, 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. Depending on the design, each ojime takes 3-4 hours to complete. The completed beads are hand-polished and waxed one more time to insure brightness and durability.

Special thanks to Bill Boss for this artilce and thanks to you for visiting Trinidad Trading Company and reading our All about Ojime Beads, Netsuke Boxes, History and Symbolism Article.

Ojime Beads- Hand carved and valuable - Netsuke box for herbs - box photo

Netsuke and Inro boxes are so intricate that many people have treasured them thoughout history. picture.....

Ojime Beads- Hand carved Ojime mermaid -

Ojime beads are intricate and valued for their sheer beauty and historical symbolism

Ojime Bead carving- Hand carved Ojime horse -

Designs incorporated everyday life, myth, tradition, poetry, nature, and whimsy.

Netsuke box carving- Hand carved Netsuke -

Compartmentalized inro boxes were used to carry medicinal herbs, acupuncture needles, and related personal items

Depending on the design, each ojime bead takes 3-4 hours to complete.

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