收藏: Japanese Okimono, Figurines & Statues | Japonista Archive
Rated Heritage — The Japonista Cultural Archive
Sculptural objects for placement—where domestic scale meets technical mastery.
Curator’s Note Okimono are sculptural objects intended for placement rather than wear or ritual use. They occupy the space between fine art and domestic object, demanding close reading rather than distant admiration.
Meaning of Okimono The term okimono literally means “placed thing,” reflecting their role as focal points within interiors rather than architectural or functional elements.
Historical Expansion During the Edo period, okimono were modest domestic accents. In the Meiji era, they expanded dramatically in scale, material ambition, and technical refinement, driven partly by export demand.
Meiji Craftsmanship Meiji-period okimono often demonstrate extraordinary craftsmanship: complex bronze casting, expressive wood carving, and refined surface finishing designed to impress international audiences.
Subjects & Narrative Subject matter ranges widely—animals symbolizing virtues, human figures depicting daily life, and mythological or historical scenes rendered with narrative detail.
Material Language Material choice shapes reading. Bronze conveys authority and permanence; wood offers warmth and intimacy; ceramics emphasize color and glaze; lacquer introduces depth and tactility.
Authenticity Cues Authenticity is assessed through tool marks, casting seams, carving logic, and surface aging. Overly uniform surfaces or erased wear can signal aggressive restoration.
Signatures & Workshops Signatures and seals matter, but absence does not imply inferiority. Many workshop-produced pieces were unsigned yet remain historically important.
Patina Ethics Patina ethics are critical. Natural oxidation and wear tell time; artificial patination or polishing erases context and reduces archival value.
Ivory Considerations Ivory okimono require special scrutiny. Legal status varies by jurisdiction, and documentation is essential for ethical and lawful ownership.
Condition Assessment Condition reading prioritizes structural stability: cracks, repairs, or replaced elements must be disclosed and evaluated calmly.
Display Discipline Display context should respect scale and intent. Okimono function best as single points of focus, not clustered décor.
Handling Care Handling must be deliberate. Small protrusions, delicate inlays, and aged joins are vulnerable to careless movement.
Shipping & Compliance Shipping is generally straightforward but requires rigid packing and vibration control. Ivory and bronze may require additional documentation.
Collector Strategy Collectors should define scope—period, material, subject, or maker—to avoid incoherent accumulation.
Archive Principle When collected with literacy and restraint, okimono form an archive of Japanese sculptural thought—intimate, portable, and deeply expressive.
Collecting Okimono with confidence?
Our Concierge Services assist with authenticity checks, material ethics, documentation, and display strategy for sculptural works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are okimono functional objects?
No. They are sculptural accents intended for placement and contemplation.
Is unsigned okimono inferior?
Not necessarily. Many workshop pieces are unsigned yet historically important.
Can ivory okimono be sold internationally?
Only with proper documentation and compliance with local regulations.
Tier lateral: Byōbu Screens · Scrolls & Paintings · Porcelain & Ceramics
Tier down (planned reading): Meiji Okimono Overview · Authenticity Guide
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Portable Zushi Shrine with Senju Kannon Bosatsu (Thousand-Armed Avalokiteśvara) — Gilt Interior Personal Devotional Icon, Edo-Period Lineage, Approx. 9.5cm Deity
常规价格 $9,420.00 USD常规价格促销价 $9,420.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Bato Kannon (Horse‑Headed Kannon) — Edo‑Style Carved Wood Devotional Figure, 40.8 cm — Esoteric Protector Presence
常规价格 $1,940.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,940.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Temple-Carved Hinoki Wood Nio Guardian Figures (Pair) — Muscular Dynamic Form, Hand-Carved, Approx. 20 cm
常规价格 $690.00 USD常规价格促销价 $690.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Edo‑Period Wooden Niō Guardians (Agyō & Ungyō) — Paired Temple Protectors, Dynamic Carving, Late Edo–Meiji Transition
常规价格 $940.00 USD常规价格促销价 $940.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Takamura Koun — Agyo & Ungyo (Nio Guardians), bronze; publisher-certified edition, Showa-era release; highly detailed pair, approx. 56–56.5 cm
常规价格 $5,250.00 USD常规价格促销价 $5,250.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Monumental Standing Kannon Bosatsu Bronze Statue — 201 cm Temple Scale Sculpture
常规价格 $29,850.00 USD常规价格促销价 $29,850.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Nagasaki Bekko Phoenix Treasure Ship — Plate-Constructed Decorative Vessel with Blood-Red Coral Accents | Includes Glass Display Case (30 cm)
常规价格 $9,470.00 USD常规价格促销价 $9,470.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Edo-Period Bronze Shishi Incense Burner — Gilt-Accented Guardian Lion Sculpture
常规价格 $1,380.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,380.00 USDSend Best Offer -
High-Relief Japanese Bronze Dragon Incense Koro Burner — Ritual Metalwork with Certificate - Wooden Base Included
常规价格 $16,480.00 USD常规价格促销价 $16,480.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Late Edo–Meiji Satsuma Ware Incense Burner — Gilt Export Koro with Figural Panels
常规价格 $6,420.00 USD常规价格促销价 $6,420.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Resonating Japanese Iron Turtle (Kame) Okimono — Symbol of Longevity and Stability
常规价格 $1,875.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,875.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Outstanding Size Japanese Kutani Ware Yaki | Polychrome Ceramic Sculpture | Koma Inu Shisha Foo Fu Dog Lion
常规价格 $9,295.00 USD常规价格促销价 $9,295.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Large Kutani Ware Koma Inu Shishi Lion Guardian with Polychrome Brocade Ball — Showa Period Interior Sculpture
常规价格 $1,295.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,295.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Large Kutani Ware Red Shishi Lion Koma Inu Guardian — Brocade Jewel Motif | Dramatic Japanese Ceramic Okimono (35 cm)
常规价格 $1,765.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,765.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Kutani Ware Shishi Koma Inu Lion Guardian — Outdoor Garden Display with Brocade Jewel | Polychrome Japanese Ceramic (Approx. 36 cm)
常规价格 $1,265.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,265.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Kutani Ware Shishi Foo Lion Dog on Jewel Ball | Polychrome Guardian Beast | Meiji–Taishō Era Folk Ceramic | approx. 35cm
常规价格 $640.00 USD常规价格促销价 $640.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Kutani Ware Guardian Lion with Sacred Jewel — Monumental 37cm Shishi Koma Inu Figure on Brocade Cushion — Early 20th‑Century Japanese Folk Sculpture
常规价格 $1,765.00 USD常规价格促销价 $1,765.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Statement-Scale Polychrome Shishi Incense Burner Okimono — Japanese Ceramic Guardian Lion Koro (~30 cm)
常规价格 $695.00 USD常规价格促销价 $695.00 USDSend Best Offer -
Kutani Ware Jewel-Ball Shishi Lion (Tama-nori Shishi) — Hand-Painted Polychrome Guardian Figure — Approx. 30 cm — Showa–Heisei Era Decorative Sculpture
常规价格 $640.00 USD常规价格促销价 $640.00 USDSend Best Offer