{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O121258"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121258/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW2894/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW2894/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW2894","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT8705","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT8706","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KC9306","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O121258/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O121258","accessionNumber":"W.293-1922","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. 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 by Shibata Zeshin (1807-91), one of the most renowned and highly skilled lacquerers of the 19th century, who presided over a successful workshop with a large output. Although made of lacquer, this <i>inro</i> is made to imitate the form and appearance of a cracked and chipped inkstick. Ogawa Haritsu (1663-1747), widely known by his art name, Ritsuo, was the first artist to pioneer and regularly produce lacquer imitating other media, especially ink sticks. Zeshin also undertook considerable experimentation in this technical field and took inspiration from Haritsu. For this reason Zeshin also signed this <i>inro</i> with the seal of Haritsu.","physicalDescription":"Inrō in the form of a cracked and chipped ink stick. One side has a central panel with three characters in seal script, surrounded by a border of musical instruments. The other side reveals part of a lantern partly obscured by a cloud or wave. The edges have been deliberately made to look chipped and worn, while the surface has an all-over incised design simulating the crackle of an old ink cake.","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"},{"text":"incising","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"roiro (highly polished black lacquer) ground, takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), and hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e)","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":["2021MW2894","2006AT8705","2006AT8706","2017KC9306"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"017","id":"THES361149"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Inro","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1875","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"4.9","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":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō in the form of a cracked and chipped inkstick, lacquer, by Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Japan, 1800-1875","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"musical instruments","id":"AAT41620"},{"text":"lantern","id":"AAT37647"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.293-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"293","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2006-02-20","availableToBook":true}}