Four-piece inro

Japan, 19th century

Lacquered wood, gold hiramaki-e and nashiji, motif on the outside surface: three figures amongst trees; probably not the original cord; missing ojime or netsuke.

H: 8 cm, W: 5.5 cm

O 346

An inro is a box for holding small objects (usually medicines and a personal seal) that was hung on a cord with an ojime bead; a netsuke button was at the end of the cord. The inro was suspended behind an obi sash.