{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O109298"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109298/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV9771/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV9771/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV9771","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9289","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O109298/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O109298","accessionNumber":"W.183 to B-1921","objectType":"Inrō, netsuke and ojime","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. They 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. Most <i>inro</i> are rectangular with gently curving sides. \r\n\r\nLacquer was most commonly used in the manufacture of <i>inro</i> since it was highly suitable for storing medicines. Lacquer is the sap from the tree <i>Rhus verniciflua</i>, which grows mainly in East Asia. After processing, it is applied in many thin layers to a base material. The craft of lacquering is highly complex, time-consuming and expensive. This example is decorated in <i>hiramakie</i> (‘flat sprinkled picture’) lacquer. <i>Makie</i> is a generic term for a number of related techniques that all make use of gold, silver or coloured powders sprinkled onto wet lacquer before it hardens.\r\n\r\nThe subject of this <i>inro</i> is a crescent moon and <i>susuki</i> grasses, both of which are associated with the autumn in Japan. Autumn is considered a good time to view the moon and <i>susuki</i> are one of the seven plants of autumn. Such an <i>inro</i>, therefore, would have been highly suitable for wearing during the autumn months.","physicalDescription":"Inrō, with netsuke and ojime. The inrō is decorated with a crescent moon seen through susuki grasses on one side, and with a curtain on the other. Gold hiramaki-e and mother-of-pearl inlay on a fundame ground. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"inlay","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Kinji (gold ground), fundame (gold powder), gold hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), raden (shell inlay)","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":["2021MV9771","2017KC9289"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES361138"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES361138"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES361138"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Inro","id":""}],[{"text":"netsuke","id":"AAT184865"}],[{"text":"ojime","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1750-1850","earliest":"1750-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Sage Memorial Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Taken from department file","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with crescent moon and susuki grasses, lacquer, Japan, 1750 - 1850","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.183-1921","W.183A-1921","W.183B-1921"],"accessionNumberNum":"183","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1921,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Inro","Netsuke","Ojime"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-22","recordCreationDate":"2005-02-15","availableToBook":true}}