Case (Inrō) with Design of Dragonfish beside Rocks and Waves
Unknown Artist
17th–18th century
Medium
Lacquer, fundame, roiro, gold, silver and brown hiramakie, applied metal; Interior: nashiji and fundame
Dimensions
2 3/4 x 2 3/16 x 15/16 in. (7 x 5.6 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
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.134.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite inrō or portable case, dates to Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868), when such lacquered containers became essential accessories for men. Worn suspended from the sash, inrō held small items like medicines or seals. Their compact form and intricate decoration reflected both practical needs and the refined tastes of the merchant and samurai classes during a time of peace and cultural flourishing. The case features a dynamic design of a dragonfish gliding beside rocks and waves, rendered in delicate hiramakie lacquer with gold, silver, and brown powders. The shimmering fundame and roir...