Five-case inro

Japan, 19th century

Varnished wood, mother-of-pearl, gold hiramaki-e, silk.

H: 8 cm / W: 5.5 cm

O 345

This five-case lacquer wood inro has been decorated with gold hiramaki-e and mother-of-pearl inlay. One side features a cockerel and chicken under a flowering cherry tree, while the other presents a hen with her chicks at the base of a cherry tree. The combination of the dark lacquer ground and colourful mother-of-pearl inlay is inspired by Chinese lacquer.

An inro is a case for holding small objects (usually medicine, a personal seal and other items) and compensated for the lack of pockets in Japanese kimonos. The inro was hung from a sash (obi) on a silk cord with a bead (ojime). At the end of the cord is a decorative button (netsuke). Inro could comprise one or several cases; besides wood, they

were made of bone, ivory, or lacquer. Over time, inro became a fashion accessory. (JMl)