Five-piece inro

Japan, 19th century

Wood, gold hiramaki-e and coloured lacquer, cord not original, missing ojime and netsuke.

H: 8 cm, W: 4.5 cm

O 347

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.