印籠扇面蒔絵印籠|Inrō with Inrō and Fan
late 18th century
Medium
Four cases; lacquered wood with gold, black, red lacquer takamaki-e, hiramaki-e, tgidashimaki-e on red lacquer ground; Netsuke: carved ivory; beans; Ojime: metal bead with insects
Dimensions
H. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); W. 2 1/2in. (6.3 cm); D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Inrō
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1913
Accession Number
13.67.26
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Inrō with Inrō and Fan*, crafted by Koma Kyhaku V in the 18th century during Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), exemplifies the pinnacle of lacquer artistry. Inrō were compact, multi-case containers worn suspended from a kimono sash by samurai, merchants, and dandies to hold medicines, seals, or tobacco. Adorned with a carved ivory netsuke shaped like beans and a metal ojime bead featuring insects, this piece measures just 2 15/16 inches high, showcasing the era's fascination with portable luxury and intricate personal accessories. The four lacquered wood cases gleam on a vibrant...