Japanese Edo period three-case inro with Seven Sages motif, 17th century
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
XVIIe siècle
This Japanese inro, dating to the 17th century Edo period, is a masterfully crafted three-case portable container. Traditionally used to carry small personal items such as medicines or seals, this example is constructed from lacquer and features a sophisticated hirame finish.
Its exterior is intricately decorated using multiple traditional techniques, including kirigane, heidatsu, and takamaki-e in gold and silver, depicting the Seven Sages in a bamboo forest. The interior of the cases is lined with nashiji lacquer, known for its aventurine-like appearance. The dimensions of the inro are 6.5 cm by 6 cm by 2.3 cm. These containers were typically suspended from an obi (sash) by a cord and secured with a netsuke, representing a high level of Japanese craftsmanship during the Edo period.
The combination of varied gold and silver lacquer techniques creates a textured, luxurious appearance typical of elite decorative arts of the time.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Lacquer, gold, silver
- Dimensions
- 6,5 x 6 x 2,3 cm
Technical characteristics
- Cases
- 3
- Techniques
- Hirame, kirigane, heidatsu, takamaki-e, nashiji
Design
- Motif
- Seven Sages in a bamboo forest
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.