Inro
ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This inro (a personal medicine or seal case) is composed of four sections. The main gold-lacquered body is decorated with mother-of-pearl, shell and coral (in what is known as Shibayama style) and illustrates the Shishi-mai (Lion Dance) as performed in eastern Japan. There, a single dancer cavorts through the village in autumn, operating the mask while draped in a long cloth. The dancer is accompanied by a drummer who also carries a gong. The netsuke (a kind of toggle) is in the form of a tengu (a mythical creature) hatching from an egg. This netsuke is extremely similar to another in the V&A's collection (A.909-1910). The metal bead is in the form of a pomegranate.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Lacquered, carved and inlaid wood, with mother-of-pearl, coral, shell and metal |
| Brief description | Metal bead in the form of a pomegranate, Japanese, 19th century; Woo, Japan, dress accessories, lacquer Lacquer inro decorated with mother-of-pearl and coral with a design of a lion dancer and drummer, Japanese, 19th century; Woo, Japan, dress accessories, lacquer Figure of tengu (mythical creature) hatching from an egg, carved wood, Japanese, 19th century; Woo, Japan, dress accessories, lacquer |
| Physical description | This Inro (personal medicine or seal case) is composed of three parts: the main lacquered body is decorated with mother of pearl and coral (in what is known as Shibayama style) and illustrates the shishi-mai (Lion Dance) as performed in Eastern Japan, with a single dancer cavorting through a village in autumn, operating the mask whilst draped in a long cloth. He is accompanied by a drummer who also carries a gong. The netsuke is in the form of a tengu (a mythical creature ) hatching from an egg. This netsuke is extremely similar to A.909-1910. The ojime (metal bead) is in the form of a pomegranate. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Masakazu (Japanese) |
| Production | Late Edo |
| Summary | This inro (a personal medicine or seal case) is composed of four sections. The main gold-lacquered body is decorated with mother-of-pearl, shell and coral (in what is known as Shibayama style) and illustrates the Shishi-mai (Lion Dance) as performed in eastern Japan. There, a single dancer cavorts through the village in autumn, operating the mask while draped in a long cloth. The dancer is accompanied by a drummer who also carries a gong. The netsuke (a kind of toggle) is in the form of a tengu (a mythical creature) hatching from an egg. This netsuke is extremely similar to another in the V&A's collection (A.909-1910). The metal bead is in the form of a pomegranate. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.165:1 to 3-1922 |
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| Record created | February 21, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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