Beads, ojime, (21), in shape of human crania; strung with cord through foramen magnum to top of skull; one large (H 2.1 cm) ojime at center, two small (0.8 cm) ones near large one; remainder H 1.5 cm); doubled nylon cord descending from base of large cranium, bunched together with round ivory (?) bead. L overall 33.2 cm.
Donor:
Dorothy Campbell Tompkins
Collection place:
Japan
Verbatim coll. place:
Japan unspecified
Culture or time period:
Japanese
Collector:
John Barr Tompkins
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Ivory (material), Nylon, and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Beads (pierced objects)
Function:
2.2 Personal Adornments and Accoutrements
Context of use:
Either "prayer beads" or ojime strung together by modern collector. Ojime: "Sliding bead through which cord of netsuke and inro passes.
Department:
Asia (except western Russia)
Dimensions:
Remaining 18 ojime— height 1.5 centimeters, Two small ojime— height 0.8 centimeters, and Large ojime at center— height 2.1 centimeters