{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120962"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120962/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HV7854/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HV7854/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HV7854","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HV7853","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BC9712","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU2661","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6333","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9321","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120962/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120962","accessionNumber":"W.301-1922","objectType":"Inrō","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. \r\nThis <i>inro</i> is part of a unique set of 12 calendar <i>inro</i> by Shibata Zeshin, each representing a different month of the year. All 12 <i>inro</i> are of a different shape and size, while the decoration is carried out in different lacquer techniques. \r\nZeshin usually referred to a particular month by depicting some aspect of a popular or religious festival that took place at that time. This <i>inro</i> representing the tenth month depicts a gong and striker. This probably alludes to the fact that this month was often referred to as <i>kanna zuki</i>, or the ‘month without gods’. This was partly because there were no festivals at the various shrines during this month. It was also partly because the gods were said to desert their shrines, being summoned to the great shrine of Izumo. There the tenth month was known as the ‘month with gods’. The gong on this <i>inro</i> may be interpreted as one to summon the gods to Izumo. It may also be interpreted as a gong to encourage their return to the local shrines. \r\nFrom the 1700s onwards, many artists signed the <i>inro</i> they made. This example is by Shibata Zeshin (1807-91), one of the most talented and renowned lacquer artists of the 19th century. He was head of a successful workshop with an enormous output.","physicalDescription":"Inrō of ovoid shape with decoration depicting a gong and striker with some scattered snowflakes and camellia branches. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Shibata Zeshin","id":"A7951"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brown lacquer imitating bronze, gold and silver hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) and takamaki-e (high relief maki-e) lacquer on a grey lacquer ground imitating bronze\r\n\r\n題目：銅鑼椿(仮) W301-1922　　寸法：98×72×23\r\n\r\n表に銅鑼と撥、裏に椿を描く\r\n四分一鈖（地は石目で仕上げる）に銅鑼、撥、椿をそれぞれ炭粉、錆上げ等による高蒔絵で表す\r\n銅鑼は鉄錆塗り（朱、弁柄、黒、金鈖少量）、表面に素掘りあり\r\n撥の頭部分は四分一鈖を蒔き、研ぎあげる\r\n細部は朱蒔きの上に金平蒔絵で表現\r\n椿の花は肉上げ後、朱銅塗り、ガクは青金、葉その他は焼金\r\n内側は梨地（3～4号）、合口及び上縁は金溜\r\n","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":["2015HV7854","2015HV7853","2006BC9712","2006AU2661","2006BE6333","2017KC9321"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"8","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Inro","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1865","earliest":"1865-01-01","latest":"1865-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"W.302-1922","id":"O120965"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.303-1922","id":"O120976"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.304-1922","id":"O120982"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.305-1922","id":"O120984"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.306-1922","id":"O120986"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.307-1922","id":"O120987"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.308-1922","id":"O102283"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.309-1922","id":"O120991"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.310-1922","id":"O121006"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.311-1922","id":"O121012"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.312-1922","id":"O121014"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō with decoration depicting a gong and striker, lacquer, by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Japan, dated 1865","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"gongs","id":"AAT41905"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.301-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"301","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2025PG9541","2025PG9540"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-05","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-13","availableToBook":false}}