{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120900"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120900/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA3083/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NA3083/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NA3083","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT9210","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC8164","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120900/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120900","accessionNumber":"W.147:1 to 3-1922","objectType":"Inrō, netsuke and ojime","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>inro</i> is a container made up of tiers. Japanese men used them because the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets. From the late 1500s onwards, Japanese men wore the <i>inro</i> suspended from their sash by a silk cord and a netsuke (toggle). They originally used it to hold their seal and ink or a supply of medicines. However, it rapidly became a costly fashion accessory of little or no practical use. Most <i>inro</i> are rectangular with gently curving sides. \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 Rhus verniciflua that grows mainly in East Asia. After processing, it is applied in many thin layers to a base material.  The craft of lacquering, as well as making <i>inro</i> bodies, is highly complex, time-consuming and expensive.\r\nFrom the 1700s onwards, many artists signed the <i>inro</i> they made. This example is signed Ogata Korin (1688-1703), together with the title <i>hokkyo</i> (bridge of the law). Korin was a follower and the greatest exponent of the versatile artist and craftsman, Hon’ami Koetsu (1558-1637). Koetsu pioneered a distinctive style of lacquerwork that made use of relatively straightforward techniques of lacquer, with inlays of shell and lead. His designs are usually in silhouette with little or no interior detail. This <i>inro</i> is decorated with inlaid plum blossoms on a gold lacquer ground. The ground is of very fine, dense gold powder, interspersed with larger gold flakes sparingly sprinkled on, a characteristic of Korin’s work. Although a work of the eighteenth century, this <i>inro</i> was probably not the work of Korin himself.","physicalDescription":"Inrō, with netsuke and ojime, decorated with a flowering plum. Encrustations of lead and incised pearl-shell on a fundame ground, which also contains larger flecks of gold. Worn fundame interior with scratched signature on the underside of the top of the first compartment. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Korin","id":"A17155"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"Signed hokkyo Korin, aged 71"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"lead","id":"AAT11022"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"inlay","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Fundame (gold powder), lead, raden (shell inlay)","categories":[{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo period","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021NA3083","2006AT9210","2017KC8164"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES376777"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES376777"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES376777"},"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":"18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.6","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":"1.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Taken from department file","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with plum blossoms, lacquer, signed hokkyo Korin, Japan, 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.147:1-1922","W.147:2-1922","W.147:3-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"147","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Inro","Netsuke","Ojime"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-07","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-08","availableToBook":true}}