{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76194"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76194/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT9188/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT9188/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT9188","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76194/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76194","accessionNumber":"W.363-1922","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. \r\nThis <i>inro</i> is decorated in the Somada technique. The technique was introduced from China and named after the Somada family of lacquer workers who made it popular in Japan. It is extremely demanding. Tiny slivers of iridescent shell are inlaid into black lacquer, often in complex geometric designs. During the late Edo (1615-1868) and Meiji (1868-1912) periods, the technique also included tiny inlays of gold foil, as seen on this example. Here each different and contrasting design corresponds to one horizontal section of the <i>inro</i>.","physicalDescription":"Inrō of black lacquer inlaid with pearl-shell and gold foil, with red and silver lacquer, decorated with bands of diapered ornament.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"foil","id":"AAT160106"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Roiro (highly polished black lacquer), inlaid with pearl-shell and gold foil, with red, gold and silver hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e)","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":["2006AT9188"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA015","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":"9.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.8","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":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with geometric patterns, lacquer, Somada style, Japan, 1800-75","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Julia Hutt, <i>Japanese Inro</i>, V&A Publications, 1997; plate 29"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"Geometric patterns","id":"AAT165213"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>Urushi Now: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer</b>\r\nThe Somada style of shell inlay, known for intricate geometric patterns, traces its origins to the Kyoto artisan Somada Kiyosuke (1633–1700). He mastered Chinese inlay techniques introduced to Nagasaki, and later entered the service of the Toyama branch of the powerful Maeda samurai clan in 1678. The Somada style of delicate shell-inlaid work became highly sought after, including <i>inrō</i> for the samurai elite.","date":{"text":"30/04/2026","earliest":"2026-04-30","latest":"2026-04-30"}}],"partNumbers":["W.363-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"363","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-28","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-06","availableToBook":false}}