#okimono
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aurahack.ca
thinking posting a picture of a tanuki okimono with the huge balls and saying "transition goals" and letting the discover feed figure it out for themselves
February 8, 2026 at 8:20 AM
rabihalameddine.bsky.social
Myōchin Munesuke, Japan early 18th C
Metalwork Okimono in the Form of a Raven.
May 24, 2026 at 3:15 PM
fakehistoryhunter.net
An ivory okimono of a banana, 15.5cm (6 1/8in) long.
Late Meiji era (1868-1912), early 20th century.
Sold for £4,000
www.bonhams.com/auction/2281...
June 27, 2026 at 2:04 AM
vintagestuff.bsky.social
Okimono Ornament of Fish in Waves.
Oshima Yasutaro.
Meiji Period Japan
(from October 23, 1868, to July 30, 1912.)
December 16, 2024 at 11:40 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
Jizai okimono giant hornet (queen) with 18-karat gold and bronze inlay.
This remarkable jizai okimono (articulated metal sculpture) depicting a queen giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) stands as a triumph of Japanese metalworking virtuosity, seamlessly bridging anatomical study and fine craft. Posed directly atop its preparatory engineering schematics, the sculpture underscores the painstaking draftsmanship required to plan its internal pins, hinges, and interlocking plates. The art of jizai okimono trace its origins to the Edo period, when elite armorer dynasties—most notably the Myōchin family—pivoted from forging suits of samurai armor to creating fully flexible miniature creatures, applying their mastery of articulated iron joints to create life-sized, poseable animals and insects. The material execution of this piece highlights sophisticated alloy techniques and precious metal inlay (zōgan). The hornet's voluminous abdomen features rich 18-karat gold and patinated bronze inlay layered into dark, oxidized metal, faithfully mimicking the distinct, luminous warning bands of the species with jewel-like permanence. Each segment of the gaster, thorax, and multi-jointed legs is meticulously engineered with micro-friction joints, allowing the wings to extend, the limbs to shift, and the abdomen to curl into a natural defensive posture. The patinated copper and alloy wings capture the papery, translucent sheen of insect wings while maintaining the structural durability required for fluid manipulation. By placing the finished piece against the backdrop of precise ratio measurements and anatomical drafts, the photograph celebrates the philosophy of monozukuri—the absolute dedication to material craft and technical perfection. The stark contrast between the lethal reputation of the Asian giant hornet and the exquisite delicacy of gold, bronze, and articulated metal transforms a formidable predator of the Japanese countryside into an object of contemplative, tactile art.
August 13, 2026 at 10:00 PM
sardonicus.eu
'Shigarki lying down female tanuki'

'Old Shigaraki pottery ware okimono of lying down female raccoon dog with a carved seal of ‘Rian’, probably made by Rian The first (Fujiwara Tetsuzo, 1876-1966) as the father of Shigaraki tanuki okimono.'

tatami-antiques.com/items/lying-...
reclining racoon dog with breasts
September 13, 2025 at 8:27 AM
sardonicus.eu
An ivory okimono of a banana, Meiji period (1868-1912).

'Naturalistically carved with two strips of skin peeled back to the brown stalk, revealing the fleshy interior, the skin stained a pale yellow'

www.bonhams.com/auction/2281...
a peeled banana
June 7, 2026 at 7:34 AM
pmamtraveller.bsky.social
Japanese ivory okimono (decorative sculpture) of a banana, dating from the Meiji period
May 8, 2026 at 5:13 PM
postnatodepression.bsky.social
Japanese ivory okimono (objet d'art), undated.
Bequest of Walker Wallis, 1945.
Ref FE002872, Te Papa.
A group of samurai rowing a boat carved from a dragon.
June 22, 2025 at 10:16 PM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#WorldFrogDay #TheVictorianBookoftheDead
Figure of two frogs carrying a human skull. 19th c. Netsuke, or, more likely okimono.
live.pookandpook.com/online-aucti...
Carved ivory figure of a large frog with a sword as a walking stick, assisted by a smaller frog, holding a human skull on its head.
March 20, 2026 at 1:59 PM
dadrummond.art
Amazing jizai okimono ocean crab made by @/kani10yen (on Twitter) and now in my hand 🦀
June 22, 2023 at 6:07 PM
patrickkapty.bsky.social
Praying Mantis incense burner
iron, gold, silver
c. 19th century
Meiji period
Japan

#handmade #iron #gold #silver #prayingmantis #incenseburner #jizaiokimono #Japan #japaneseantiques #japanesemetalworking #metalworking #craft #art #miniature #sculpture #okimono #metalcraft
This small object in the shape of a praying mantis is actually an incense burner. Crafted in Japan during the 19th-century Meiji period (1868-1912) from iron with a gold and silver lining, it currently resides in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These types of articulated metal animal figures are part of a tradition known as jizai okimono. Jizai means the ability to move freely or as desired, while okimono refers to a decorative object intended for display. This tradition was closely connected to samurai armor makers. As the demand for war declined, some metalworkers applied their skills to figures of animals, insects, crabs, dragons, and birds instead of armor. These movable forms were initially created as novelty objects for samurai circles. During the Meiji period, however, they evolved into highly sought-after Japanese export items in the European and American markets.
June 12, 2026 at 8:57 PM
hislla.bsky.social
Escultura okimono de ratos de bronze da era Meiji
June 8, 2026 at 10:12 PM
dbrbndr.bsky.social
I’m a okimono and satsuma porcelain collector ☺️
December 2, 2023 at 3:01 PM
3710yuki.bsky.social
👘 okimono coordinate 🌸

𝐍𝐨. 2 ▸▸▸ メガネとベレー帽

モダンなお着物コーデでランチタイム
February 20, 2025 at 6:55 AM
roger1952.bsky.social
A) A silver articulated model of a praying mantis, the wings chiselled and signed under the inner wing Muneyoshi
B) A silver articulated model of a cicada
C) A silver articulated model of a hornet, with protracting sting.
all Japan, Meiji (1868-1912)
The Japanese Meiji era (1868–1912) was a period of extraordinary artistic transition, where traditional metalworking skills originally developed for samurai armor were repurposed to create intricate, lifelike "articulated" models known as jizai okimono. This trio of silver models serves as a prime example of the incredible technical precision and anatomical detail achieved by master craftsmen during this time. The collection features a large praying mantis with finely chiseled wings—signed by the artist Muneyoshi beneath the inner wing—alongside a meticulously rendered cicada and a hornet complete with a realistic, protracting sting. These pieces are not merely static sculptures but functional mechanical marvels, with multiple joints that allow the insects to be posed in lifelike positions, reflecting a profound respect for the natural world through a high degree of craftsmanship. This focus on the minute details of nature and the pursuit of technical mastery is a consistent thread that runs throughout the history of Japanese visual arts.
April 1, 2026 at 10:20 PM
animal-aspects.bsky.social
#MetalMonday :
Okimono of frolicking #frogs on a lotus leaf
Japan, Meiji period, early 20th c.
Signed by Oshima Joun (1858-1940)
Silver, L 37.1 cm (14 5/8 in.)
www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6...
#JapaneseArt
official auction photo of object on grey background "Naturalistically cast and carved as six frolicking toads on a large lotus leaf, the details of the leaf finely chiseled, incised signature on underside."
July 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
postnatodepression.bsky.social
An ivory okimono (ornament often displayed at a Buddhist altar) in the shape of a woodcutter. Undated.
Ref FE002859, Te Papa
Ivory in the shape of a smiling old man holding an axe, with a bundle of sticks.
February 16, 2025 at 2:08 AM
kotobukido.bsky.social
東京都美術館の大英博物館日本美術コレクション展、孔雀の自在置物も出ています。
britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
1987年の東京国立博物館「大英博物館所蔵 日本・中国美術名品展」では、この孔雀も含む自在置物が多数出品されましたが、約40年ぶりの日本での公開ですね
okimono (jizai okimono); figure | British Museum
Articulated figure (jizai okimono) of a pheasant. Made of painted iron with gold inlay for the eyes.
britishmuseum.org
July 25, 2026 at 11:51 AM
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#MementoMoriMonday mood
Skull with snake okimono, c. 1914,Izumi Sukeyuki泉亮之
cn.51bidlive.com/Item/7703163
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead
screaming skull with snake on head and through an eye Wooden box to hold carved wooden skull with a snake on its head and through its eye.
February 3, 2025 at 2:35 PM
gin-and-chthonic.bsky.social
actually noda left out what is clearly the most distinctive and important part of the meiji era, which is the popularity of okimono specifically in the form of articulated bronze crustaceans
September 8, 2026 at 7:45 PM
wiesiek.eurosky.social
Jizai okimono
Samurai Museum Berlin
October 14, 2025 at 6:17 PM
erikvos.eurosky.social
In 2014 ontwierp ik dit shirt voor de Jane Goodall Foundation, in de Okimono serie “only 100 left”. Een ode aan alle natuurbeschermers wereldwijd en Jane Goodall in het bijzonder.
Het shirt kreeg nu een update. En met een tientje korting!

www.okimono.nl/collections/...
February 7, 2026 at 12:52 PM
roger1952.bsky.social
MUROE KICHIBEI (1841-1903)

A Large Bronze Hōō Bird and Tortoise Okimono Ornaments
Meiji era (1868–1912), circa 1880, Japan
February 6, 2025 at 7:14 PM
spleenlancien.bsky.social
Retour de chine
Okimono en bronze, signé Juzan, école de Tokyo, époque Meiji, vers 1890-1900.
❤️
Bronze à patine brune, médaille, et aux profonds reflets, représentant un enfant chevauchant un buffle d'eau. Il est signé Juzan. Signé sous le ventre dans un cartouche carré en relief par un cachet sigillaire Gros plan sur le mufle du buffle d'eau, on y voit la patine aux reflets délicats et subtils du sujet. L'enfant (Karako) vu de dos, détails des ciselures sur ses vêtements et gros plan sur flanc du buffle.
October 7, 2026 at 6:40 AM