Meiji Period Rosewood Inro: Carved Mice with Mother of Pearl
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Antique Japanese Inro, Meiji period had carved rosewood inro with intricate carving depicting mice to both sides with Mother of pearl inlayed signature to base and carved mouse ojime and netsuke height 8.3 cm
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- Ojime - An ojime is a small decorative bead that is used as a sliding bead or toggle on the cord of a traditional Japanese netsuke. The netsuke is a small sculptural object that was used to fasten a container, such as a box or pouch, to the obi (sash) worn with a traditional Japanese kimono.
The ojime was used to adjust the length of the cord or to secure the container in place. Ojime beads were typically made from a variety of materials such as wood, ivory, bone, and stone. They were often elaborately carved with intricate designs or decorated with colourful lacquer, enamel, or inlay work. - Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries. - Rosewood - A dense timber that varies in shade to very light brown to almost black. When rosewood is cut and sanded the colour of the timber will turn black, and after polishing and exposure to daylight, the surface will gradually lighten over time to light brown with black streaks.
The name comes from the odour emanating from the timber when it is planed, sanded or cut.
Rosewood was very popular for use in Victorian furniture in the second half of the 19th century, and at that time most of the rosewood was imported from Brazil. However it also grows in India and Indonesia.
It is used in the sold for chairs and table legs, but for carcase furniture such as side cabinets and bookcases, and for table tops it is always used as a veneer.
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