古満安匡作 孔雀蒔絵印籠|Inrō with Peacocks and Flowers

Art Historical Context

This exquisite inrō, crafted by the lacquer artist Koma Yasutada in 19th-century Japan, exemplifies the refined artistry of the late Edo period. Inrō served as elegant, portable cases for seals, medicines, or small personal items, suspended from a sash by a cord secured with a netsuke toggle and ojime bead. The compact form—measuring just over three inches tall—reflects the sophisticated urban culture of Edo Japan, where such accessories combined utility with status and aesthetic pleasure. Yasutada employed masterful maki-e techniques, layering black lacquer over a shimmering nashiji (pear-skin) ground and applying gold and silver powders through hiramaki-e and togidashi methods to create the vibrant peacock and floral motifs. These intricate designs evoke themes of beauty, longevity, and nature’s splendor. The accompanying netsuke, carved from peach stone and inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl, and tortoise shell to depict the folk hero Kintarō among forest creatures, adds narrative charm, while the red-bronze ojime shaped like a melon completes the harmonious ensemble. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection, this piece highlights Japan’s enduring tradition of transforming everyday objects into miniature masterpieces.