Small antique okimono "Smart Monkey". Made of ivory. The base is a tree. Japan, 1900s

Okimono is a kind of Japanese arts and crafts. Okimono should not be confused with the concept of netsuke. Okimonos do not carry a deep meaning. Translated from Japanese, okimono means a thing that is on display. Okimono art originated in the 17th century, it consisted in the manufacture of sculptural compositions to decorate a traditional Japanese home.