Hartman Rare Art, Inc.

A family-owned business since 1927

For over 77 years, the Hartman Family and our associates have consistently worked to provide quality antique merchandise to our customers at competitive prices. Should you have any questions about the pieces we feature on this website or if you would like to inquire further about a specific item, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our gallery is located in midtown Manhattan and easily accessible on the second floor. Please note the entrance to the building is on 53rd Street between Park and Madison Avenues. We are open to the public Monday to Friday from 10:00AM until 4:30PM.

Netsuke, Inro, and Ojimé are all items of adornment that have their origins in Japan. The three are often combined. An inro is a small "pouch-like" container composed of wood or lacquer suspended from a man's Obi using a string or cord. Inro typically have several small compartments and each may have been used to transport dry items like tea, snuff and tobacco. The Netsuke is a large bead-like item that attaches to the string or cord on an inro and slung to the opposite side of the Obi to secure the inro in place. Ojimé are small decorated beads from Japan that also often adorned the strings on an inro.

For more hand-carved works of art, we suggest our Okimono and Chinese Ivory pages.

Wood and Lacquer Inro

This beautiful Japanese 4-case inro was crafted during the mid-19th century. The compartments are all decorated on the exterior with relief carved linear and geometric motifs of stylized leaves and flowers. The exterior surfaces are decorated with a dark reddish-brown colored lacquer. The inro measures a total 3.25 inches height.

JN01

Price: $1,100.00

Carved Bamboo Inro with Lacquered Fan Decoration

This 3-case Japanese inro was made during the late 19th/early 20th century. The inro is flattened oval shape and composed of carved bamboo. On the exterior surfaces, the inro is decorated with applied and lacquered reserves in the shapes of fans. The surfaces are further decorated with inlaid flowers. This piece is strung on a silk cord and accompanied by a lacquered wooden ojimé. The inro measures 3.25 inches length from top to bottom.

JN05

Price: $1,400.00

Netsuke of a Man with a Goat

This beautiful carved ivory netsuke was crafted in Japan during the early/mid 19th century. The subject is an old man with a goat. The man and the goat huddle together happily. This netsuke is a fine example of early 19th century carving in netsuke as it represents the break from the earlier, more stylized carvings of these ornaments into the more elaborate and detailed styles developed during the 19th century. The netsuke measures a total 1.25 inches height.

JN07

Price: $700.00

Netsuke of a Mythical Animal

This finely carved Japanese ivory netsuke was crafted in Japan during the 18th century. The subject is a Japanese mythical animal with an enlarged testicle. Despite the age of the material, it is in very good condition; no splits or cracks. The netsuke measures 1.5 inches height.

JN08

Price: $700.00

Netsuke of a Chestnut, signed Shinzan

This beautiful carved dark wood Netsuke was made in Japan by the famed artisan, Shinzan. The wood is naturalistically carved in the form of a chestnut. On one side of the piece is a carved hollow with a miniature ivory carving of a small snail or some kind of insect. The piece is in beautiful condition and features Shinzan's signature on the reverse. This netsuke measures 1.5 inches width.

JN12

Price: $800.00

Ivory Netsuke of Two Rats

This beautiful carved ivory netsuke was crafted in Japan during the 18th century. The subjects of this highly stylized carving are two rats; one huddles on the ground, another smaller rat sits atop the larger rat's head, curled up. The simple styling makes it rather charming. This netsuke measures 1 3/8 inches length. This piece was formerly from the collection of Mr. Denis Szesler.

JN14

Price: $300.00

Lacquer Inro with Floral Design

A 5-case Japanese inro featuring a marvelous allover gilt floral pattern accompanied also by a lacquered ojimé with floral motif. This piece measures 2.75 inches length.

JN19

Price: $1,000.00