Ojime
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
H. 1/2 in. (1.3 cm); W. 5/8 in. (1.6 cm)
Classification
Ojime
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Stephen Whitney Phoenix, 1881
Accession Number
81.1.424.81
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ojime, a small ivory bead from 19th-century Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of everyday luxury items. Measuring just 1/2 inch high and 5/8 inch wide, it served as a functional yet decorative toggle, sliding along the silk cords of an *inro*—a lacquered carrying case for medicines, seals, or tobacco pouches worn suspended from the sash (*obi*) by samurai and merchants alike. Ojime like this one were essential accessories in men's fashion, blending utility with artistry in a society that prized subtlety and elegance. Carved from ivor...