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@patrickkapty.bsky.socialOct 8, 2026, 5:52 PM

A couple of amazingly detailed ojime beads from Japan, both late 19th century. They are very small, under an inch, and both are hand carved from wood that has been darkened with either paint or lacquer.

See ALT for history and info about the ojime bead.

#handmade #antique #ojime #bead #Japan #art

An ojime bead is a small, movable sliding bead threaded onto the cord of a traditional Japanese carrying case like an inrō or tobacco pouch (sagemono).
The word comes from o (meaning cord or string) and shimeru (meaning to fasten or tighten).
It sits on the double cord between the container (inrō) and the toggling ornament (netsuke). Sliding the bead up tightens the cord to keep the container closed; sliding it down releases the cord so the case can be opened.
They are typically small, averaging under an inch (about 1.5 to 2 cm) in diameter, with a vertical center hole (himotoshi) through which the cords pass.
They are crafted from diverse materials such as carved ivory, wood (like boxwood), bone, lacquer, porcelain, agate, coral, jade, and mixed metals (such as shakudō, a gold-and-copper alloy).
Evolving from simple functional fasteners during the Edo period (1603–1868), ojime became miniature works of art, often carved into intricate shapes like animals, figures, fruit, or mask motifs. Today, they are also collected or worn as modern jewelry.
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