Inrō in the Form of a Spinning Top
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1865
This Japanese inrō is sculpted in the three-dimensional form of a spinning top with decoration featuring circular motifs and ribbon-like bands. Made in Japan and dated to 1865, the container measures 8.0 cm in height, 7.7 cm in width, and 2.6 cm in depth. It was crafted by the prominent 19th-century lacquer master Shibata Zeshin (1807–1891).
The inrō incorporates lacquer and shell inlay, utilizing gold and red hiramaki-e (low-relief maki-e) as well as takamaki-e (high-relief maki-e). Its central band features pearl-shell inlay (aogai) alongside gold and silver foil (kirikane) and circular decorative medallions. The upper and lower tapered sections of the spinning top display layered colored and gold lacquer striping, while the central spindle is executed with an iron-rust lacquer effect. The interior surfaces are finished with nashiji sprinkled lacquer, and the tiers are threaded on a cord.
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.
Historical context
Traditional Japanese garments lacked pockets, prompting men from the late 1500s onward to wear tiered inrō suspended from the sash by a cord and netsuke. Originally used to store seals or medicine, they evolved into sophisticated personal accessories. This piece belongs to a set of twelve calendar inrō by Shibata Zeshin, each using distinct forms and lacquer techniques to represent a specific month of the year through associated seasonal customs. Representing the first month, this example depicts a spinning top, a traditional toy associated with New Year celebrations.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Inrō
- Museum object number
- W.304-1922
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.