Okimono and Jizai: Japan's Display Carvings and Articulated Metal Creatures
Okimono means simply a thing that is placed: a decorative object made to stand on its own, usually in the tokonoma, the alcove of a Japanese room. The term covers carvings in wood, sculptures in bronze, figures in porcelain and, most remarkably, jizai okimono, articulated metal creatures whose bodies move like the living animal.
Display objects for the alcove
Through the Edo period, small sculptures of animals, deities and figures from legend were made for display and for the pleasure of the hand. In the Meiji era, when the samurai class was abolished and sword fittings were no longer needed, many highly skilled carvers and metalworkers turned to okimono. Their work filled the Japanese pavilions at the world exhibitions and was bought eagerly by Western collectors.
Jizai: creatures that move
Jizai okimono are hammered and cut from sheets of iron, and later copper, silver and alloys, then assembled from dozens or hundreds of parts. A snake coils, a dragon's body flexes segment by segment, a crayfish's legs and antennae all move. They appeared in the early eighteenth century; the earliest known dated example is a dragon of 1713 signed by Myōchin Muneharu, of the famous family of armourers. With fewer suits of armour to make in peaceful times, armourers applied their skill with iron to these extraordinary objects.
- Subjects. Dragons, snakes, carp, crayfish, crabs, insects, birds and occasionally shrimps and lobsters.
- Makers. Myōchin school armourers in the Edo period; in the Meiji and Taishō eras, Takase Kozan (1869–1934) and his circle produced some of the finest pieces.
- Signatures. Usually inscribed on the underside or on a concealed plate. Many pieces are unsigned.
What to look for
- Movement should be smooth at every joint. Stiff or frozen joints may hide rust or past repair.
- Count the parts. Missing antennae, legs or fins are common and reduce value.
- Look at the surface. A stable, even patina is desirable; active rust is not.
- Later reproductions often have fewer, simpler joints and a cast rather than hammered construction.
Materials and the law
Okimono were made in many materials. Wood and bronze present no difficulty, but ivory does. Many countries restrict the import, export or sale of ivory, whatever its age, and some ban it almost entirely. We describe materials accurately and do not offer pieces that cannot travel lawfully. Check the rules where you live before buying any carving in a restricted material.
Caring for metal okimono
- Keep iron pieces in a dry, stable environment to avoid rust.
- Handle with clean, dry hands or cotton gloves; skin oils mark metal.
- Never polish with abrasive cleaners, which destroy patina.