Case (Inrō) with Design of Bishamon on Clouds Pursuing Demon (Oni) Holding Sacred Gem
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Lacquer, roiro and rubbed fundame, gold and silver hiramakie, tortoiseshell; Interior: nashiji and fundame
Dimensions
2 5/8 x 2 1/8 x 7/8 in. (6.7 x 5.4 x 2.3 cm)
Classification
Inrō
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.869
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning 17th-century *inrō*—a compact, multi-tiered lacquer case worn by Japanese men on a silk cord from the belt to hold medicines, seals, or tobacco—hails from Japan's Edo period (16151868), an era of peace and refined craftsmanship. Produced by an unknown artist, it exemplifies the intricate lacquerware (urushi) traditions that flourished in urban centers like Edo (modern Tokyo), where such accessories became fashionable status symbols for samurai and merchants. The design vividly captures Bishamon, the warrior god of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichifukujin), soaring on clouds in pursui...