{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76189"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76189/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0352/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0352/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH0352","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MV5220","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76189/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76189","accessionNumber":"W.354-1916","objectType":"Inrō","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The inro is a tiered container used by men only, because the traditional Japanese garment, the kimono, had no pockets. From the late 16th century onwards, inro were worn suspended from the sash by a silk cord and netsuke (toggle). The inro was originally designed to hold the individual’s seal and ink or a supply of medicines. But it rapidly became a costly fashion accessory with little or no practical function. \r\n\r\nLacquer was most commonly used in the manufacture of inro, because it was highly suitable for storing medicines. The greatest achievements of Japanese lacquerwork are in the <i>makie</i> (sprinkled picture) technique. The main types can be distinguished by the height to which the decoration is raised above the ground. From about the 1750s century onwards, craftsmen increasingly sought imaginative and inventive decoration. The composition of this inro makes use of surprise elements. At first glance, it appears to portray bush-clover (<i>hagi</i>). On closer inspection, however, two black dots are visible, the eyes of a hare whose body then becomes apparent.","physicalDescription":"Inrō decorated with two hares beneath flowering hagi (clover) bushes. Gold and silver togidashi maki-e, gold hiramaki-e and  takamaki-e, enriched with kirikane on a black ground partly sprinkled with gold. Lisped edge in gold lacquer. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"foil","id":"AAT160106"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Roiro (highly polished black lacquer), nashiji ('pear skin' ground), gold and silver hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), togidashi maki-e (polished-out maki-e), kirikane (cut foil)","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":["2006AH0352","2021MV5220"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"027","id":"THES361122"},"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":"18th century","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Alexander Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"9.7","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":"2.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Taken from department file","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with hares in bushes, lacquer, Japan, 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"animals","id":"x30274"},{"text":"plants","id":"AAT132360"},{"text":"hare","id":"x30063"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.354-1916"],"accessionNumberNum":"354","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1916,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-06","availableToBook":true}}