Japanese lacquer four-case inro with immortal and cranes, Kajikawa School
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This is a 19th-century Japanese four-case inro, a traditional compartmented container used to carry small personal items. The piece is crafted from lacquer, featuring a dense hirame ground—a technique involving sprinkled metal flakes—as a base for the decorative work.
The exterior is adorned with elaborate takamaki-e, or high-relief lacquer decoration. One side depicts an immortal figure holding a fan, while the reverse features two red-capped cranes set against the metallic background. Standing 8.4cm in height, the inro consists of four nesting cases that fit together precisely. The item bears the signature "Kajikawa saku," indicating it originated from the renowned Kajikawa School of lacquer artists.
Such containers were historically worn suspended from an obi sash. The piece exhibits some signs of historical wear, including a chip loss to the edge of the upper case on the immortal side, smaller losses to the lacquer on the edges of the cover and base compartment, and wear to the risers between the individual cases.
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
- Height
- 8.4cm
- Material
- lacquer
- Structure
- four case
Technical characteristics
- Ground technique
- hirame
- Decoration technique
- takamaki-e
Design
- Obverse motif
- immortal holding a fan
- Reverse motif
- two red capped cranes
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.
- Maker named in listing
- Kajikawa School
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.