On Sale for Close-Out!

Wood Inro & Tea Scoops
In earlier times, Japanese men and women wore lidded boxes, called Inro, hanging from the sash, or obi, at the waist of their kimono. Merchants carried their signature seals in the Inro. Anyone might carry snuff, perfume, or other small items. Inro were sometimes given as romantic gifts between lovers. They were often beautifully carved from ivory, as were the other parts making up the whole Inro set, namely the Ojime bead and the Netsuke. The Netsuke rested on the top of the obi—that's why the two holes are on the bottom of the Netsuke. The Ojime bead acted as a slide on the cord to open or close the lid of the Inro.

The Tea Scoops are Chinese rather than Japanese in origin. These are traditional designs.