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DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 253 — Authentication of Japanese Netsuke and Okimono
Japanese netsuke and okimono are among the most intricate miniature carvings in Asian art, traditionally crafted from ivory, boxwood, stag antler, marine ivory, bone, and other organic materials. Genuine Edo- and Meiji-period carvings display hand-cut details, layered chisel strokes, natural patina, cord-wear channels, and stylistic traits associated with established carving schools. The modern market, however, is flooded with resin copies, molded reproductions, machine-carved pieces, forged signatures, and artificially aged fakes that require careful forensic evaluation.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 253 — Authentication of Japanese Netsuke and Okimono provides collectors with a complete professional workflow for verifying authenticity through material identification, tool-mark analysis, patina evaluation, signature study, and stylistic attribution. This guide explains how experts distinguish genuine hand-carved works from modern reproductions, cast resins, chemically aged surfaces, and tourist-market imitations.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify correct materials including ivory, marine ivory, antler, boxwood, burl wood, and bone
Distinguish hand-cut details from machine-carved or molded surfaces
Analyze chisel strokes, undercuts, directional cuts, and traditional Japanese tool marks
Evaluate natural patina development, handling wear, and recess darkening
Detect painted, stained, or chemically induced patina used on fakes
Interpret signatures (mei), stroke direction, tool pressure, and placement traditions
Identify forged signatures and misattributed works
Evaluate himotoshi (cord holes) for correct placement, wear patterns, and function
Distinguish netsuke from okimono using size, composition, and historical purpose
Detect mold seams, resin bubbles, repetitive details, and composite fakes
Use magnification to reveal grain, Schreger lines, resin artifacts, and surface anomalies
Identify repairs, fills, replaced limbs, crack restoration, and overpainted sections
Attribute pieces to major schools such as Kyoto, Osaka, Iwami, and Nagoya
Volume 253 gives collectors a complete, museum-level authentication system—ensuring confidence when evaluating Japanese netsuke and okimono and preventing costly misidentification.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access
Japanese netsuke and okimono are among the most intricate miniature carvings in Asian art, traditionally crafted from ivory, boxwood, stag antler, marine ivory, bone, and other organic materials. Genuine Edo- and Meiji-period carvings display hand-cut details, layered chisel strokes, natural patina, cord-wear channels, and stylistic traits associated with established carving schools. The modern market, however, is flooded with resin copies, molded reproductions, machine-carved pieces, forged signatures, and artificially aged fakes that require careful forensic evaluation.
DJR Expert Guide Series, Vol. 253 — Authentication of Japanese Netsuke and Okimono provides collectors with a complete professional workflow for verifying authenticity through material identification, tool-mark analysis, patina evaluation, signature study, and stylistic attribution. This guide explains how experts distinguish genuine hand-carved works from modern reproductions, cast resins, chemically aged surfaces, and tourist-market imitations.
Inside, you’ll learn how experts:
Identify correct materials including ivory, marine ivory, antler, boxwood, burl wood, and bone
Distinguish hand-cut details from machine-carved or molded surfaces
Analyze chisel strokes, undercuts, directional cuts, and traditional Japanese tool marks
Evaluate natural patina development, handling wear, and recess darkening
Detect painted, stained, or chemically induced patina used on fakes
Interpret signatures (mei), stroke direction, tool pressure, and placement traditions
Identify forged signatures and misattributed works
Evaluate himotoshi (cord holes) for correct placement, wear patterns, and function
Distinguish netsuke from okimono using size, composition, and historical purpose
Detect mold seams, resin bubbles, repetitive details, and composite fakes
Use magnification to reveal grain, Schreger lines, resin artifacts, and surface anomalies
Identify repairs, fills, replaced limbs, crack restoration, and overpainted sections
Attribute pieces to major schools such as Kyoto, Osaka, Iwami, and Nagoya
Volume 253 gives collectors a complete, museum-level authentication system—ensuring confidence when evaluating Japanese netsuke and okimono and preventing costly misidentification.
Digital Download — PDF • 8 Pages • Instant Access