Inro, Netsuke, and Ojime: (a) Inro: thin lacquer case of 5 nesting sections. Viewed from top: long, narrow oval shape. All sides rounded. Hidden cord guides. Light relief decoration of peacock w/ outstretched wings, perched upon gnarled stump. Peony flower below the bird. Shell inlay in the 'eyes' of the peacock's tail feathers. Continuation of the tail and stump on reverse side, w/ a large peony flower. The ground is of even, rather dull dense layer of sprinkled gold (fundame). The relief design (hiramaki-e) is of brighter equally dens gold. Interior: Nashiji) coarse sprinkled gold particles, on black ground w/ cover layer of red tinted transparent lacquer. Brown braided cord. Netsuke: (b) wood carving representing Bishamon, one of the 7 gods of good luck, seated in warriors atire [attire], before a desk, reading a book. Very detailed. Ojime: (c) brass bead in form of chrysanthemum petals. L. (a) 8.5 cm.; (b) 3.5cm.; Dia. (c) 1.5cm. (b) signed "Gyokurintei" (19th c.)
Donor:
Design (UC Berkeley)
Collection place:
Japan
Verbatim coll. place:
Japan
Collector:
Albert M. Bender
Collection date:
before 1933
Materials:
Brass (alloy), Gold (metal), Paper (fiber product), Shell (animal material), and Wood (plant material)
Inscription:
(b) signed "Gyokurintei" (19th c.)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Beads (pierced objects) and Carvings (visual works)
Function:
2.2 Personal Adornments and Accoutrements
Accession date:
1974
Context of use:
The inro was originally used for holding the seeals used for officiating signatures. It was later adapted for carrying various articles including medicines, and herbs, etc. and became subject to elaborate decoration by the merchant and warrior classes for adornment. To wear it, the netsuke was thrist through the sash for the support of the inro, the ojime functioning to keep the compartments k closed by tightening the cords.