{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O438976"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O438976/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY5746/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AY5746/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AY5746","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV4993","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7310","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O438976","accessionNumber":"FE.197:1-2002","objectType":"Inro","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>inro</i> is a container made up of tiers. From the late 16th century, Japanese men wore an <i>inro</i> suspended from their sash by a silk cord and a netsuke (toggle) because the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets. They were originally used to hold their owner’s seal and ink or a supply of medicines. However <i>inro</i> rapidly became costly fashion accessories of little or no practical use. Most <i>inro</i> are rectangular with gently curving sides. \r\n\r\nWith the adoption of western dress from the mid 19th century onwards, <i>inro</i> gradually fell from use and were actively seen as old fashioned. Over time, the knowledge and skills to make <i>inro</i> were also lost. In more recent times, with the renewed interest in the forms and designs of past lacquerwork, a number of craftsmen attempted to rediscover the complex production methods of <i>inro</i>. Tomizo Saratani is one such lacquer artist who has successfully produced a number of <i>inro</i>. Born in Kyoto in 1949, saratani learned the art of lacquering from his father. He not only works in a wide variety of forms and styles, but has also been involved in lacquer restoration. Although this <i>inro</i> is late 20th century, its subject matter and lacquer techniques are completely traditional in style.","physicalDescription":"A flattened, rectangular inro with seven sections, decorated with a pair of mandarin ducks swimming in water on both sides, in gold and silver togidashi maki-e  (completely flat)  lacquer on a black lacquer ground, with circular gold foil for the eye. Attached to a plain gold lacquer spherical bead ojime (sliding bead) by grey cord. Plain wood outer box.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Saratani, Tomizo","id":"A32974"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lacquered paper and/ or wood with gold and silver lacquer on a black lacquer ground","categories":[{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AY5746","2021MV4993","2021MW7310"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES361099"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES361099"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES361181"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"inro","id":"THES275947"}],[{"text":"ojime","id":"THES275946"}],[{"text":"bead","id":"AAT234006"}],[{"text":"Storage box","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1980-ca. 1999","earliest":"1975-01-01","latest":"2003-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Stephen Overbury","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimate through the display case","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"estimate through the display case","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Saratani","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"[Tomizo] Saratani","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Japan, modern crafts, studio, lacquer; Inro, gold and silver lacquer on a black lacquer ground, pair of mandarin ducks swimming in water, signed Saratani [Tomizo Saratani], Japan, late 20th century.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"ducks","id":"x34903"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["FE.197:1-2002","FE.197:2-2002","FE.197:3-2002"],"accessionNumberNum":"197","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":2002,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Inro","Ojime","Storage box"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-25","availableToBook":true}}