Inro

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThis is an inro, complete with an ojime (the bead that keeps the cords secure and tight) and an ivory netsuke.WHERE WAS IT MADE?This inro was made in Japan.HOW WAS IT MADE?This inro was hand-carved, coated with black lacquer, and decorated with gold lacquer. Japanese lacquer (urushi) is derived from the sap of the Rhus verniciflua tree, a member of the plant family that includes poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. Its extreme toxicity poses a danger for lacquer artisans. Lacquer is made by carefully building up thin layers of sap and letting each layer dry under warm, humid conditions. Once dry, the sap becomes rigid and impervious to water, insects, and most solvents.HOW WAS IT USED?During the Edo period (1603-1868), the standard attire for a well-dressed Japanese man consisted of a kimono tied with a sash. Because kimonos had no pockets, accessory bags and carrying cases (called sagemono: hanging things) were used to hold personal items such as money, medicines, tobacco and seals (a stamp carved with the owner’s name). Silken cords, attached to the sagemono, were threaded through the kimono sash (obi). A toggle, called a netsuke, was attached to the other end of the cord to prevent it from slipping through the sash. The inro was used to carry medicines and other personal items. The compartments securely lock together when the cords are tightened, and separate when the cords are loosened.WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS?This inro is decorated with a scene of pine trees and an eagle perched on one branch. Inro and their netsuke are often made around a unifying theme; notice how, in this example, the netsuke is carved in the form of an eagle’s head. The eagle could have been used here as a symbol of power, strength, or military prowess, while the pine trees represent longevity.