{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120986"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120986/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR0130/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR0130/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HR0130","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0139","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BD7308","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6334","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR3147","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0117","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0121","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9341","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120986/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120986","accessionNumber":"W.306-1922","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 third month is in the form of a box for the Shell Game (<i>kaiawase</i>). This was a game with various versions in which the participants tried to match up pairs of clam shells with related paintings. Since this game was widely played by women or older girls, it also alludes to the Girls’ Festival (<i>hinamatsuri</i>), the most important festival of that month. Zeshin’s allusion to the third month is further underlined by the depiction of blossoms on the box, since cherry blossoms were in bloom at this time. \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 in the form of a Karabitsu box for the shell game in gold togidashi maki-e (polished-out maki-e) and hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) on a gold lacquer ground","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Shibata Zeshin","id":"A7951"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gold togidashi maki-e ( polished-out maki-e) and hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) on a kinji (gold lacquer) ground\r\n\r\n題目：唐櫃(仮)W306-1922　　寸法：109(96)×64×32\r\n\r\n印籠全体を唐櫃の形につくる\r\n地は金平極鈖使用による白檀塗りとする\r\n枝、花は上研出し蒔絵で表し、花つぼみは透漆塗込み\r\n亀甲の地には黄もしくは白の顔料を蒔き、その上に平蒔絵を施す\r\n金具は黒を多く用いた鉄錆塗りと黒乾漆粉石目地\r\n肩、底には刑部平目鈖を使用\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":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo period","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2015HR0130","2015HR0139","2006BD7308","2006BE6334","2015HR3147","2015HR0117","2015HR0121","2017KC9341"],"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.301-1922","id":"O120962"},"association":""},{"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.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":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō in the form of a box for the shell game, 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":"plants","id":"AAT132360"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.306-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"306","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-13","availableToBook":false}}