Case (Inrō) with Design of Chrysanthemum Blossoms
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Lacquer, kinji, gold, silver and brown hiramakie, kirigane and nashiji; Interior: gyobu nashiji and fundame
Dimensions
3 3/8 x 2 1/16 x 15/16 in. (8.6 x 5.3 x 2.4 cm)
Classification
Inrō
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo (1615–1868) or Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.886a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Inrō*, or tiered lacquer case, hails from 19th-century Japan the Edo (16151868) or early Meiji (1868–1912) period. Worn suspended from a silk cord at the waist (inro netsuke style), it served as a practical yet elegant container for medicines, seals, or tobacco, reflecting the refined tastes of samurai and merchants in urban Edo society. Adorned with blooming chrysanthemum flowers—a symbol of autumn, longevity, and imperial nobility—the design captures nature's fleeting beauty in miniature form, measuring just 3 3/8 x 2 1/16 x 15/16 inches. Crafted with masterful lacquer techni...