{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76255"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76255/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW0593/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW0593/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW0593","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU1697","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AR9007","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AR9006","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76255/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76255","accessionNumber":"W.629-1910","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\nThe main decoration was on the outside surfaces. In rare cases, makers also decorated the risers, which were only seen when the tiered sections were separated. On this <i>inro</i>, the exterior shows a fish encrusted in pearl-shell, with seaweed in lacquer. By contrast, the risers show floral scrolls in <i>chinkinbori</i> (incised lines filled with lacquer and gold powder). In this way the maker has provided a contrast in the colour, technique, height and texture of the decoration.","physicalDescription":"Inrō, in the style of Chōhei, one side decorated with three fishes and a squid against a background of seaweed, each fish occupying a horizontal section. The reverse depicts a single fish. The figures are encrusted with raden and horn over fish skin on a black lacquer ground, with brown showing through in places. The decoration is in gold, grey and red hiramaki-e; risers decorated in chinkinbori.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"},{"text":"horn","id":"AAT11826"}],"techniques":[{"text":"incising","id":"AAT53847"},{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Roiro (highly polished black lacquer), gold, grey and red hiramaki-e (low relief maki-e), takamaki-e (high relief maki-e), chinkinbori (incised lines filled with lacquer and gold powder), raden (shell inlay), horn 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":["2021MW0593","2006AU1697","2006AR9007","2006AR9006"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"026","id":"THES361158"},"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":"1775-1850","earliest":"1775-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"7.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with fishes amongst seaweed, lacquer, Japan, 18th/19th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"fishes","id":"x30068"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.629-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"629","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-07","availableToBook":true}}