{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120987"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120987/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD7305/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BD7305/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BD7305","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BE6334","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/O120987/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120987","accessionNumber":"W.307-1922","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. The fourth month, however, is not associated with any major festivals. Instead by depicting a mulberry leaf, silkworm moths and cocoons, this <i>inro</i> refers to a crucial time in the lifecycle of the silkworm, since the production of silk was an important economic and social commodity.  \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 depicting cocoons, silk moths and a mulberry leaf  in gold hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e) and black lacquer 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 hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), dark green ishime (lacquer finish imitating a granular stone surface) and black lacquer on a gold lacquer ground\r\n\r\n題目：桑に蚕蛾と繭(仮)W307-1922　　寸法：92×70×22\r\n\r\n表は桑の葉と枝に繭、裏は繭と蛾を描く\r\n繭は金鈖と銀鈖のぼかし蒔き\r\n葉は炭粉もしくは乾漆粉の石目蒔きの上に青銅塗りで表す\r\n枝は炭粉上げの後に細粒子の金鈖蒔き\r\n蛾は金鈖、弁柄、朱、黒の顔料による研切り蒔絵、朱金での付描き\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":["2006BD7305","2006BE6334","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.306-1922","id":"O120986"},"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":"92","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"72","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"22","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō depicting cocoons, silk moths and a mulberry leaf, 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":"sericulture","id":"x34704"},{"text":"leaves","id":"x34654"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.307-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"307","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-13","availableToBook":false}}