Case (Inrō) with Design of Cranes Standing Beneath a Gnarled Pine Tree and Netsuke Depicting Yoshitsune and Benkei
18th century
Medium
Lacquer, roiro, gold, silver, black, brown and red hiramakie; Interior: gyobu and fundame
Dimensions
3 1/16 x 2 1/4 x 1 in. (7.7 x 5.7 x 2.5 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
29.100.790
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century *inrō*—a compact lacquer case for medicines or seals, suspended from a kimono sash via cords and a netsuke toggle—exemplifies the refined artistry of Edo-period Japan (1615–8). Crafted by Hakusai or Hōgen Kosen, it measures just 3 1/16 x 2 1/4 x 1 inches, showcasing the era's mastery of miniature design. Part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection, it reflects the opulent collecting tastes of Gilded Age patrons. The exterior gleams with roirō (mirror-black lacquer) enhanced by hiramakie—gold, silver, black, brown, and red powders sprinkled f...
About the Artist
Hakusai|Hogen Kosen ( | ) · | – |
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