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Inro
Shibata Zeshin, born 1807 - died 1891 - Enlarge image
Inro
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
1865 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Shibata Zeshin, born 1807 - died 1891 (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Gold and silver hiramakie and takamakie on a gold lacquer ground, inlaid with pearl-shell
題目：朝顔にたぬき(仮)W309-1922 寸法：99×75×19
表に竹格子に朝顔、裏に俳句を詠む狸を描く
竹格子には夜光厚貝を使用、窓の中は金鈖と銀鈖の暈蒔き
壁は黒の石目蒔きに黄顔料を蒔いて研切る
机は黒乾乾漆粉地に透漆を塗込む
狸には弁柄と銀鈖を蒔く、毛は素掘り
鼻頭は金の研切り
油皿は朱金、炎には粗い金鈖を用いた朱金を用い、炎の先は透漆で表す
内側は梨地（3～4号）、合口及び上縁は金溜 - Credit Line:
Pfungst Gift
- Museum number:
W.309-1922
- Gallery location:
In Storage
The inro is a container made up of tiers. Japanese men used them because the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets. From the late 1500s onwards, Japanese men wore the inro suspended from their sash by a silk cord and a netsuke (toggle). They originally used it to hold their seal and ink or a supply of medicines. However, it rapidly became a costly fashion accessory of little or no practical use.
This inro is part of a unique set of 12 calendar inro by Shibata Zeshin, each representing a different month of the year. All 12 inro are of a different shape and size, while the decoration is carried out in different lacquer techniques.
Zeshin usually referred to a particular month by depicting some aspect of a popular or religious festival that took place at that time. However, this inro representing the sixth month depicts flowering morning glory which bloom at this time. Since the plant grows rapidly, it is shown encroaching on the window and wall of a dilapidated dwelling.
From the 1700s onwards, many artists signed the inro they made. This example is by Shibata Zeshin (1807-91), one of the most talented and renowned lacquer artists of the 19th century. He was head of a successful workshop with an enormous output.
