Inro With Netsuke Depicting Daruma

 Lovely inro with plum blossom design in lacquer with a kagamibuta netsuke in ivory and brass depicting Daruma. The cording and ojime are incorrect and only serve to keep the peices together.

 Daruma is often shown in a comical light in Japanese art. Daruma was the founder of Zen Bhuddism and there are many legends that surround him, one being that when he fell asleep during a session of meditation, he cut off his eyelids, threw them away and the first tea plants sprouted where the eyelids landed. He is often shown with wide open eyes and no arms or legs.






The iro appears to have only two compartments until a hidden compartment is discovered under a small tray.

Tiger Netsuke and Ojime

 Ivory tiger netsuke with matching boxwood ojime. The ojime is a small bead used to keep the inro tightly closed. Both are from the artist Yoshiyama, a 20th century netsuke carver. The have inlaid black eyes.

The detail even on the part of the netsuke that would not show during use. Signed Yoshiyama.

 Small ojime is exquisitely carved in the same style as the netsuke. Also signed Yoshiyama.