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Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

SIGNED Carved Wood NETSUKE Designed as Tortoise with Bird FABULOUS BARGAIN $31.27 (10 Bids) Time Remaining: 2h 43m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign Horse $16.99 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 52m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

3 WISE MONKEYS Gorgeous Wood Netsuke uk908 $7.74 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3h 17m

RABBIT on FRUIT BASKET Detailed Wood Netsuke Ojimi uk907 $1.88 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 23m

Japanese Boxwood Carved Netsuke person $39.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 13m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now

DUCK Beautiful Carved Wood Netsuke uk910 $7.74 Time Remaining: 3h 31m Buy It Now for only: $26.50 Buy It Now

FROG TURTLES GORGEOUS Wood Netsuke uk911 $18.15 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 36m

MONKEY Detailed Wood Netsuke Ojimi uk912 $6.55 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 3h 54m

Jananese Wood Netsuke with Kiseru from Japan $69.00 Time Remaining: 22d 17h 24m Buy It Now for only: $69.00 Buy It Now

RABBIT Beautiful Wood Netsuke uk913 $7.74 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 3h 55m

MICE CARRY GOURD Gorgeous Wood Netsuke uk914 $7.74 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 4h 2m

19th Century Edo Wood Netsuke Surprised Seated Man with Fan $199.99 Time Remaining: 6h 53m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign DARUMA hold a HOSSU $16.99 Time Remaining: 18d 14h 45m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

Fine 19th Century Edo Period Wood Group of Masks Netsuke Signed Gyokuzan $469.99 Time Remaining: 6h 55m

Very Fine 18th Century Edo Period Boxwood Netsuke of a Pair of Melons $469.99 Time Remaining: 6h 55m

ORIENTAL HANDWORK CARVING PIG OLD WOOD NETSUKE $0.01 Time Remaining: 9h 59m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign TEKKAI SENSEI $16.99 Time Remaining: 18d 9h 46m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

Nice Chinese Folk Art boxwood carved sheep figure netsuke $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 10h 14m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved wealth Jin chan figure netsuke $1.04 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 14m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved sheep eat cabbage figure netsuke $0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 14m

8 Japanese Boxwood Carved Mask Netsuke $59.99 Time Remaining: 28d 11h 1m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 Buy It Now

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved Standing pig figure netsuke $1.04 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 14m

Chinese Old Boxwood Handwork Carving Mouse Netsuke $0.10 Time Remaining: 10h 27m

289 LARGE CARVED WOOD NETSUKE Snuff Bottle 8 DISPLAY BASE ASIAN CHIPPED EDGE $20.00 Time Remaining: 10h 48m

Boxwood Hand Carved Netsuke Sculpture Curly Snake Cobra pendant 1 15g $8.00 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 32m Buy It Now for only: $8.00 Buy It Now

INRO JAPANESE LACQUER SAGEMONO MAKIE OJIME NETSUKE EDO PERIOD SHINOBUGUSA DESIGN $65.00 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 10h 53m

Japanese Handcraft Boxwood Wood Netsuke Carving Sculpture Sign Buddha $13.99 Time Remaining: 10h 55m

Lovely Boxwood Netsuke Goldfish $9.90 Time Remaining: 10h 57m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign deer $16.99 Time Remaining: 12h 58m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

4pcs hard Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Display $0.01 Time Remaining: 11h 5m

2 Japanese Carving Naked Nude doctor Lady Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign $5.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 22m

ORIENTAL OLD BOXWOOD HANDWORK CARVING CHICKEN NETSUKE $0.10 Time Remaining: 11h 41m

Craft Boxwood Wood Netsuke Lion Catch face Carving Sculpture Signed $10.99 Time Remaining: 29d 13h 3m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

2PCS hard Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Display $0.10 Time Remaining: 11h 43m

FREE SH ONLY 099 OLD hand Carved Boxwood netsuke Gothic skull snake $3.86 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 11h 55m

FREE SH ONLY 099 OLD hand carved boxwood netsuke frog turtle $2.46 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 3m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Deer Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign $16.99 Time Remaining: 6d 10h 30m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now

Japanese handicraft boxwood wood netsuke owl figurine $0.85 Time Remaining: 12h 40m

Carving Boxwood Netsuke Wood Carving Man Wear Cat Head $13.99 Time Remaining: 12h 40m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign Dolphin Baby $14.99 Time Remaining: 12h 48m

Traditional Boxwood Carved Inro Netsuke Pumpkin Snail Spider $75.99 Time Remaining: 28d 11h 11m Buy It Now for only: $75.99 Buy It Now

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign Monkey Fight Crap $14.99 Time Remaining: 12h 51m

Japanese Wood Boxwood Sculpture Carving Signed Netsuke 3 Carp $13.99 Time Remaining: 13h 13m

Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Craftwork $1.99 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 31m

Q1465 Japanese Boxwood Netsuke cicular mermaid $10.99 Time Remaining: 13d 19h 15m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Q2665 Japanese Boxwood Netsuke STUNNING elephant $7.50 Time Remaining: 18h 53m

Vintage Japanese handcrafter boxwood dog netsuke 3 long x 2 1 2 high $20.00 Time Remaining: 19h 38m

Vintage Japanese handcrafter boxwood dog netsuke 3 long x 2 1 2 high $20.00 Time Remaining: 19h 38m

Japanese Boxwood Carved Person Shape Netsuke Statue $46.99 Time Remaining: 29d 14h 42m Buy It Now for only: $46.99 Buy It Now

6 Of A Set MiNi Wood Stand for netsuke Snuff Bottle Carving Display $9.90 Time Remaining: 20h 53m

Japanese handicraft boxwood wood netsuke owl figurine $0.10 Time Remaining: 21h 20m

Chinese nice boxwood carved lucky immortal elder figure netsuke $0.99 Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Craft Wood Boxwood Sculpture Carving Statue Netsuke Laughing Happy Buddha $10.99 Time Remaining: 10h 34m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Chinese nice boxwood carved lovely 2 frog figure netsuke $0.99 Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Chinese nice boxwood carved lovely frog in lotus leaf figure netsuke $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Chinese nice boxwood carved lovely 2 frog in lotus leaf figure netsuke $1.29 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Japan Craft Wood Boxwood Sculpture Carving Netsuke lizard on tre $10.99 Time Remaining: 12h Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Chinese nice boxwood carved lovely 2 frog on leaf figure netsuke $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Chinese nice boxwood carved mother with child frog figure netsuke $0.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 22h 21m

Handwork Boxwood Wood Carving Netsuke Of Elephant 16 $0.99 Time Remaining: 22h 22m

P506Japanese Boxwood Netsuke WANG CAI auspicious $10.99 Time Remaining: 20d 16h 16m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved lovely mother wit hchild dolphin netsuke $3.24 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved lovely tortoise figure netsuke $3.24 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved immortal head mask figure netsuke $3.01 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Craft Signed Wood Boxwood Sculpture Carving Statue Signed Netsuke Bag Buddha $10.99 Time Remaining: 12h 53m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved lucky Jin chan figure netsuke $4.24 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved frog figure netsuke $4.24 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved god figure netsuke $5.24 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

Handmade Craft Wood Boxwood Sculpture Carving Netsuke Fish hawker $10.99 Time Remaining: 7d 10h 45m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Nice Chinese folk art boxwood carved immortal figure netsuke $3.24 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 22h 50m

3 Carved Wood Netsuke Animals Bird Sheep Dragon $7.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 22h 52m

4pcs hard Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Display $9.99 Time Remaining: 1d 24m

Q502 Japanese Boxwood Netsuke 8 immortals $56.00 Time Remaining: 22d 19h 28m Buy It Now for only: $56.00 Buy It Now

Handmade copy vintage design netsuke Water Buffalo in light wood $7.74 Time Remaining: 1d 53m

Handmade copy vintage design netsuke Frog with Young in light wood $7.74 Time Remaining: 1d 56m

RARE OLD NETSUKE IN THE SHAPE OF ANTIQUE MATCHLOCK PISTOL METAL WOOD $22.50 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 1h 19m

Craft Wood Boxwood Netsuke Sculpture Carvings Crafts Statue Golden Fish $10.99 Time Remaining: 15h 27m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

lovely boxwood owl netsuke $0.01 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 2h 51m

lovely boxwood owl netsuke $0.01 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 51m

OWL Beautiful Wood Netsuke uk915 $7.74 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 30m

JB019 Genuine Leather Wood Copper Jewelry Box $29.99 Time Remaining: 23h 34m Buy It Now for only: $29.99 Buy It Now

RAM Detailed Wood Netsuke Ojimi uk916 $3.05 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 35m

SIGNED Carved Wood NETSUKE Designed as Snake Curled Around Skull FABULOUS $5.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 3h 43m

CUTE CAT Beautiful Carved Wood Netsuke uk917 $7.74 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 54m Buy It Now for only: $31.19 Buy It Now

Jananese Wood Netsuke Kame $30.00 Time Remaining: 22d 17h 24m Buy It Now for only: $30.00 Buy It Now

RABBIT Beautiful Wood Netsuke uk918 $7.74 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 57m Buy It Now for only: $31.19 Buy It Now

3 of a set good Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Display $4.90 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 4m

Good hard Wood Stand of NetsukeSnuff bottleCarving Display $0.99 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 36m

Japanese Boxwood Carved ghost Netsuke Statue $39.99 Time Remaining: 26d 11h 34m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now

lovely boxwood owl netsuke $0.10 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 24m

Japanese handicraft boxwood wood netsuke owl figurine XH088 $0.10 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 32m

China handicraft boxwood wood netsuke Rabbit Netsuke $0.10 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 32m

Q2360 Boxwood Netsuke powerful Rino $10.99 Time Remaining: 13d 13h 44m Buy It Now for only: $10.99 Buy It Now

Japanese handicraft boxwood wood netsuke owl figurine XH087 $0.50 Time Remaining: 1d 9h 38m

2 Japanese Carving Sculpture Boxwood Wood Netsuke Sign Japan samurai $14.99 Time Remaining: 1d 10h 5m

Netsuke & Inro Really Belong Together!

Netsuke

Japanese netsukes are superb little carvings, mostly made out of ivory or wood, as handling pieces, or toggles. So one good way of judging a good netsuke is to handle it – it should feel very comfortable and interesting, in the hand, having no sharp points Netsuke are often only about an inch high, yet these tiny sculptures are very powerfully carved and so full of character.

Each netsuke will always have a couple of linked holes (or a deliberate gap often between a tail or leg) for a cord to be attached so that they could be used as a toggle. They were then most often attached to an inro. Yet there are many collectors that only collect netsuke without owning any inro.

Inro and Ojime

So what is an inro? These are finely decorated lacquer containers, consisting of a number of interlocking compartments (often between 3 – 6 sections) all held together on a cord. An ojime (decorative bead) was then threaded onto the cord that once pushed down towards the inro, kept all the compartments closed. Ojime can be exquisitely carved metal, ivory or stone beads. These inro were then used for carrying such small personal items as seals and pills and became fashionable with the Kimono.

The kimono had no pockets so the inro, held closed by the ojime, would be worn hanging from the sash; the netsuke was then, pushed up under the sash, thus trapping and holding the inro in place.

The Japanese lacquer work on inro is so beautiful, yet it is such a difficult medium to work with as well as being a time consuming process. Not only does it involve building up a Very Large number of layers before any decorative work can be introduced, but there are also then several different very fine skills required in completing the decoration. Techniques involve using coloured lacquer, shell inlay, metal work and amazing applications of tiny bits of gold. What is extraordinary too, is that having completed the decoration, the lacquer and any metal, or shell decoration, often can be quite thick, yet all the inro sections fit into each other so smoothly that when the inro is closed, all one can see, are very fine lines that are really the dividing gaps between the various compartments.

The designs used by the lacquer artists were not only very finely executed but were often deliberately worked around both sides of the inro in such a way as to maximise curiosity – thus forcing one to want to turn the inro over to see what is on the other side.

What does seem a pity these days is that there are collectors that only collect netsuke, or inro, some even only collect the ojime! No doubt this has a great deal to do with the escalating cost of these treasures, but really these particular Japanese antiques all belong together. It is so much more satisfying to find the ideal netsuke and ojime that relate well together with a favourite inro. To simply own an inro and ojime (these are often sold together) but without a netsuke makes the inro look 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

Mammoth Ivory netsuke - Old Japaneise Carrying wood

Turtles Hatching ~ Wood Netsuke List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $16.95 You save: $23.00 (58%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Turtles Hatching ~ Wood Netsuke ~ Approximately 1 5/8 inches long.. has the netsuke holes... signed by the artist. Handcrafted in Hong Kong.

Flexcut FR804 Micro-Palm Set List Price: $62.95 Sale Price: $56.98 You save: $5.97 (9%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description We now have these carving tools. available with a palm handle, power. handle or no handle. Larger profiles. can be better controlled with the. longer power handle (7-1/2" overall. length) by allowing two handed...

Lizard on Log ~ Iron Wood Netsuke List Price: $42.95 Sale Price: $18.95 You save: $24.00 (56%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Lizard on Log Iron Wood Netsuke ~ Approximately 2.5 inches long.. has the netsuke holes... signed by the artist. Handcrafted in Hong Kong.

Pair of Foo Dogs ~ Iron Wood Netsuke List Price: $85.00 Sale Price: $34.95 You save: $50.05 (59%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Pair of Foo Dogs Iron Wood Netsuke ~ Each foo dog is approximately 1.75 inches long.. has the netsuke holes... signed by the artist. Handcrafted in Hong Kong.

Hardwood Ram Netsuke Sale Price: $9.95 See Reviews For This Product Description 2" Ram Netsuke Figurine made from Hardwood.

Octopus on Turtle ~ Wood Netsuke List Price: $39.95 Sale Price: $16.95 You save: $23.00 (58%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Octopus on Turtle Wood Netsuke ~ Approximately 1.5 inches tall.. has the netsuke holes... signed by the artist. Handcrafted in Hong Kong.