{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121006"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121006/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR0133/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HR0133/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HR0133","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0143","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":"2006BC9713","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0121","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KE1580","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121006/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121006","accessionNumber":"W.310-1922","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 seventh month is in the form of a silk-winder with a <i>kaji</i>, or type of mulberry leaf. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Weaver’s Festival (<i>tanabata</i>) was celebrated. This marked the annual meeting between Shokujo, the Weaver Princess Star, and Kengiu, the Herdboy Star. According to legend, the princess, a most skilful and industrious weaver, fell in love with an oxherd. As a result of her hard work, they were allowed to marry. However, they soon began to neglect their duties and they were separated to opposite sides of the Milky Way. They were only allowed to meet once a year at <i>tanabata</i>. On this day, the princess received the supplication of those who wished to improve their weaving and sewing skills. At this time, it was also customary for young girls to write poems on pairs of <i>kaji</i> leaves. One leaf would traditionally be placed under the pillow, while the other would be cast into the heavenly river, ensuring future success in love and marriage.\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 silk winder with decoration of mulberry leaf motifs in gold, red and silver hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) and takamaki-e (high relief maki-e) lacquer","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, red and silver hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) and takamaki-e (high relief maki-e) lacquer and aogai (mother of pearl) inlay\r\n\r\n題目：糸巻きに葉(仮)W310-1922　　寸法：68×79×26\r\n\r\n印籠全体を糸巻きの形につくる\r\n糸の色を五段に分けた地に葉の蒔絵\r\n糸巻段は上から\r\n①金鈖蒔きの透漆固め\r\n②金鈖の蒔き黒漆固め\r\n③銀鈖蒔き\r\n④金鈖と黄顔料蒔き\r\n⑤金鈖と朱顔料蒔き\r\n木目は素彫り、あるいは黒乾漆粉の石目\r\n足部が二つ欠損、内一つは保管\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":["2015HR0133","2015HR0143","2006BE6334","2015HR3147","2015HR0117","2006BC9713","2015HR0121","2017KE1580"],"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.307-1922","id":"O120987"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.308-1922","id":"O102283"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.309-1922","id":"O120991"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.311-1922","id":"O121012"},"association":""},{"object":{"text":"W.312-1922","id":"O121014"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"6.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō in the form of a silk winder, 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":"silk cord","id":"x34643"},{"text":"leaves","id":"x34654"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.310-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"310","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-13","availableToBook":false}}