{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O75764"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75764/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV4983/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV4983/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV4983","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT9224","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O75764/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O75764","accessionNumber":"W.220-1922","objectType":"Inrō","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The <i>inro</i> is a tiered container that was traditionally worn by men only. Since the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets, men first used <i>inro</i> to carry daily necessities. From the late 1500s onwards, they wore them suspended from their sashes by a silk cord and netsuke (toggle). However the <i>inro</i> rapidly became a costly fashion accessory of little or no practical use. \r\nMost <i>inro</i> are rectangular, with gently curving sides. From the 1750s onwards, craftsmen tried to find interesting and inventive ways to decorate the small surface. Sometimes they modelled the entire body in the form of another object. This example represents a birdcage. The maker has cleverly created a sense of depth by showing the bird behind bars. \r\nMany <i>inro</i> were made of lacquer because it was highly suitable for storing medicines. Lacquer is the sap from the tree <i>Rhus verniciflua</i> that grows mainly in East Asia. The sap was processed, and the lacquer worker would then apply it in many thin layers to the base material. The craft of lacquering, as well as making <i>inro</i> bodies, is highly complex, time-consuming and expensive.","physicalDescription":"Rectangular inrō with decoration depicting a caged bird. On one side the bird is flying, and on the other it is seated on a perch","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"mother of pearl","id":"AAT11835"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"roiro (highly polished black lacquer), gold, silver and red hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), with aogai (mother of pearl) inlay","categories":[{"text":"Lacquerware","id":"THES49004"},{"text":"Accessories","id":"THES48998"},{"text":"Containers","id":"THES48972"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo period","id":"AAT106643"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2021MV4983","2006AT9224"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES361098"},"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":"19th century","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.1","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 decorated with a caged bird, lacquer with pearl-shell, Japan, 19th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bird","id":"x35043"},{"text":"birdcage (container)","id":"AAT220907"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.220-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"220","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-03","availableToBook":true}}