{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O109296"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109296/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV5316/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV5316/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV5316","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT9200","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O109296/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O109296","accessionNumber":"W.355-1922","objectType":"Inrō","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"An <i>inro</i> is a container made up of tiers. From the late 16th century, Japanese men wore an <i>inro</i> suspended from their sash by a silk cord and a netsuke (toggle) because the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets. Unusually the sides of each section of this <i>inro</i> are fitted with a metal loop through which the cord is threaded. <i>Inro</i> were originally used to hold their owner’s seal and ink or a supply of medicines. However, <i>inro</i> rapidly became costly fashion accessories of little or no practical use. \r\n\r\nTraditionally when a man carried his seal, it was protected from damage by an outer cover or pouch made of leather, cloth or straw. It was from this that the term <i>inro</i> (‘seal basket’) is thought to have developed. A few <i>inro</i>, such as this example, have details of basketwork as the main elements of their decoration. Under the basketwork were strips of tortoiseshell and lead, many of which have been lost as a result of corrosion. The small size of such <i>inro</i>, however, suggests that they were not intended to hold a seal.","physicalDescription":"Inrō with each compartment divided diagonally, in a manner reminiscent of kodai-ji maki-e, a term used to describe objects made for the Kodaiji temple in the early 17th century, or those closely associated with the style. The diagonal pattern is made by the use of two contrasting materials, the effect of which is enhanced by varying the direction of the diagonal lines. Tortoiseshell and lead over a gold ground and contained within a network of basketwork.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Tortoiseshell","id":"AAT11837"},{"text":"Lead","id":"AAT11022"}],"techniques":[{"text":"basket-making","id":"AAT53590"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Basketwork, tortoiseshell and lead","categories":[{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo (Japanese period)","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021MV5316","2006AT9200"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"016","id":"THES361111"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Inro","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"17th century","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1700-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō, basketwork, tortoiseshell and lead, Japan, 17th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.355-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"355","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-30","recordCreationDate":"2005-02-15","availableToBook":true}}