{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76238"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76238/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8703/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT8703/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT8703","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AT8702","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AR8981","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76238/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76238","accessionNumber":"W.159-1922","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. Most <i>inro</i> are rectangular with gently curving sides. \r\nThis example shows an elephant in rich covers on one side, and boys in Korean dress on the other. The spectacle of the relatively rare processions of Korean embassies through Japan to Edo resulted in an enormous interest in things Korean. Re-enactments formed part of certain Japanese festivals. Although elephants were never included as part of the official presents by the Koreans, elephant floats began to be included in some festivals. This <i>inro</i> shows one of these festivals.","physicalDescription":"Inrō decorated on one side with a caparisoned elephant, and on the other side with five karako, often translated as 'Chinese boys', playing instruments and holding a banner. Gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e, with inlay of ivory, pearl-shell, gold, silver, horn, coral and hardstones, on a fundame ground. The design of the karakos is found in 'Ehon Jikishiho', vol. 1, first published in 1745, illustrated by Tachibana Morikuni.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Kakosai","id":"A7936"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"},{"text":"coral","id":"AAT11800"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"},{"text":"hardstone","id":"x37572"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"},{"text":"inlay","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Kinji (gold ground), fundame (gold powder), gold hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), various inlays","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":["2006AT8703","2006AT8702","2006AR8981"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES361250"},"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":"1850-1875","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1875-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Kakosai","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"Japanese","medium":"","method":"","position":"on base","script":"Chinese chharacters","translation":"artist's name","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Japanese; Chinese chharacters; on base"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with caparisoned elephant, lacquer, by Kakosai, Japan, 1850-75","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"elephant","id":"x30316"},{"text":"boys","id":"AAT247598"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.159-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"159","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-07-15","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-07","availableToBook":true}}