Intricately hand-carved inro box of crab and octopus on a cord with a crab ojime bead and a crab netsuke bead.
On one side you see a crab and when you reverse it you can see that it is wrapped by an octopus.
In Japanese philosophy the crab represents foresight and bravery.
The box portion measures 68mm by 80mm by 36mm.
An inro box in like a Geisha purse and is one of the many geisha's accessories.
Traditional kimonos do not have pockets, so Japanese men and women may wear a compartmentalized box called an inro to carry small personal items. Oftentimes, this was medicine. Now, it works well for herb capsules, vitamins, a piece of paper with a phone number.
The inro box hung below the obi, a wide fabric kimono belt, on a double cord. This inro box is a set consisting of an inro box, an ojime bead and a netsuke bead.
Hand-carved boxwood box by master carvers (adult labor).