Inrō
ca. 1800-1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The inro is a tiered container that was traditionally worn by men only. Since the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets, Japanese men first used inro to carry daily necessities. From the late 1500s onwards, men wore them suspended from their sashes by a silk cord and netsuke (toggle). Most inro are rectangular, with gently curving sides. Sometimes the entire body was modelled in the form of another object. The maker has modelled this example in the form of a bottle and stopper and carved it with scenes of Chinese figures and pine trees.
Japanese men originally used inro to carry their seals and ink. The bottom section of this 'bottle' contains a stamp pad of red cinnabar. The next section carries a black stamp pad, while the 'stopper' is a seal. The maker has carved this inro in bamboo. A bamboo seal would not have lasted for long. Most seals were made from more hardwearing materials, such as hardstones.
Japanese men originally used inro to carry their seals and ink. The bottom section of this 'bottle' contains a stamp pad of red cinnabar. The next section carries a black stamp pad, while the 'stopper' is a seal. The maker has carved this inro in bamboo. A bamboo seal would not have lasted for long. Most seals were made from more hardwearing materials, such as hardstones.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved bamboo |
| Brief description | Inrō in the form of a bottle and stopper, carved bamboo, Chinese figures and pine trees, Japan, ca.1800-1775 |
| Physical description | Bamboo inrō carved in low relief with two oval panels on a brocade pattern ground. One panel shows Chinese sages and attendants in a landscape with rocks and pine trees. The other panels shows a similar scene with sages standing around a cow or deer. On top of the inrō is a cylindrical plug through which the cord emerges. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from a source not recorded in the Asia Department registers, accessioned in 1875. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The inro is a tiered container that was traditionally worn by men only. Since the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets, Japanese men first used inro to carry daily necessities. From the late 1500s onwards, men wore them suspended from their sashes by a silk cord and netsuke (toggle). Most inro are rectangular, with gently curving sides. Sometimes the entire body was modelled in the form of another object. The maker has modelled this example in the form of a bottle and stopper and carved it with scenes of Chinese figures and pine trees. Japanese men originally used inro to carry their seals and ink. The bottom section of this 'bottle' contains a stamp pad of red cinnabar. The next section carries a black stamp pad, while the 'stopper' is a seal. The maker has carved this inro in bamboo. A bamboo seal would not have lasted for long. Most seals were made from more hardwearing materials, such as hardstones. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 596-1875 |
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| Record created | March 6, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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