Case (Inrō) with Design of Scattered Hollyhock (Aoi) Leaves
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Lacquer, roiro, yamimakie, black hiramakie; Interior: nashiji and fundame
Dimensions
4 x 2 5/8 x 1 1/8 in. (10.1 x 6.6 x 2.8 cm)
Classification
Inrō
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.134.23
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868) with this exquisite 18th-century *inrō*, a compact lacquer case designed for carrying personal items like medicines, seals or tobacco. Worn suspended from a samurai's or merchant's sash (obi) via a netsuke toggle and ojime bead, these portable treasures were both functional and a canvas for artistic expression during Japan's peaceful, prosperous era. Measuring just 4 x 2⅝ x 1⅛ inches, this example from the Metropolitan Museum of Art exemplifies the meticulous craftsmanship of lacquerware, a medium prized for its durability and glossy ...