{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O72514"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72514/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU2719/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU2719/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU2719","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0126","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR3149","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0119","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0118","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0122","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HR0123","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O72514/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O72514","accessionNumber":"W.361-1922","objectType":"Inrō","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>inro</i> is a tiered container that was traditionally worn by men only. The traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets, so men first used the <i>inro</i> to carry daily necessities. From the late 1500s onwards, men wore it suspended from their sashes by a silk cord and netsuke (toggle). However, it rapidly became a costly fashion accessory of little or no practical use. \r\n<i>Inro</i> subjects often reflect a particular festival or time of year. This one probably refers to Tanabata (Weaver's Festival), which was celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month. The festival celebrates the annual meeting of the Weaver Princess Star and the Herdboy Star. According to legend, the princess and the herdboy fell in love and were allowed to marry. However, they soon began to neglect their duties and were separated to opposite sides of the Milky Way. They were allowed to meet only once a year at Tanabata. This <i>inro</i> is decorated with a silk-winder, which represents the Weaver Princess Star. The milky-white ground represents the Milky Way.","physicalDescription":"Inrō with decoration depicting a silk winder on one side, with a loose end of thread crossing the Amanogawa (the 'Milky Way'). The risers are decorated with elongated letter papers. Mother of pearl pieces inlaid in an irregular design completely cover the body of the inrō","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kyukoku","id":"A7162"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"mother of pearl","id":"AAT11835"},{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"}],"techniques":[{"text":"incising","id":"AAT53847"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Mother-of-pearl, incised with gold, on a hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e) ground","categories":[{"text":"Images Online","id":"THES48937"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"},{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo period","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2006AU2719","2015HR0126","2015HR3149","2015HR0119","2015HR0118","2015HR0122","2015HR0123"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"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":"1800-1850","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Kyukoku","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Japanese","medium":"","method":"incised","position":"on base","script":"Chinese Characters","translation":"artist's name","transliteration":"","type":"Signature","note":"Signature; Japanese; Chinese Characters; on base; incised"}],"objectHistory":"Historical significance: Depicts a silk winder crossing the Amanogawa (the 'Milky Way'), an allusion to the Tanabata Festival.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with a scene associated with the Tanabata Festival: a silk-winder with a loose end of thread crossing the Amanogawa (the 'Milky Way'), by Kyūkoku, in mother of pearl, lacquer and gold powder, with red kakihan, Japan, 1800-1850","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"silk (fiber)","id":"AAT14072"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.361-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"361","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-10","recordCreationDate":"2003-01-06","availableToBook":false}}