Inro (Case) with Squirrels in Grapevines
1700–1868
- Medium
- Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold powder design (maki-e)
- Dimensions
- Overall: 8 x 5.8 cm (3 1/8 x 2 5/16 in.)
- Genre
- lacquer
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
About
With multiple small compartments joined with a woven silk cord, inro are small cases that can be worn on one’s obi, the sash fastening a kimono. This one has a metal ojime, or small cinch, with a pierced floral design and a wood netsuke (toggle) carved with an autumnal design of quails in millet. The netsuke can be used both to pull the inro out and to help keep it in the obi. Squirrels in grapevines is a popular autumn motif.