Case (Inrō) with Fox Wedding Procession
19th century
Medium
Colored lacquer and gold maki-e on wood Netsuke: ivory in form of fox reclining on large leaf; Ojima: gold bead; connecting cord, dark green silk Inro with netsuke and ojime
Dimensions
3 1/16 x 2 1/8 x 13/16 in. (7.7 x 5.4 x 2 cm)
Classification
Inrō
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1957
Accession Number
57.53
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Inrō* (lacquer case), crafted by Shibata Zeshin the Meiji period (18681912), showcases the pinnacle of Japanese lacquer artistry Zeshin, a master in the medium, transformed everyday objects into wearable art. Worn suspended from a kimono sash, the inrō held small essentials like medicines or seals, secured by an ivory netsuke—a reclining fox on a large—and a gold ojime, linked by dark green silk cord Measuring just 3 1/16 x 2 1/8 x 13/16 inches, its compact form belies its intricate detail. The case's surface bursts with a whimsical "Fox Wedding Procession" in colored lacquer ...
About the Artist
Shibata Zeshin · 1807–1891
Japanese, 1807–1891