{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76304"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76304/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV8599/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MV8599/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MV8599","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU1695","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AV3689","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76304/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76304","accessionNumber":"W.337-1922","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\nMost lacquer workers were able to provide basic designs for their own use. From the 1750s onwards, however, customers increasingly demanded interesting and new <i>inro</i> decoration. Lacquer workers often adapted designs from inexpensive woodblock-printed books that were widely available. Both sides of this <i>inro</i> are based on a double-page spread from <i>Ehon tamakazura</i> (Pictures of vine jewels). This book was published in 1736 and illustrated by Nishikawa Sukenobu. Here you can see a group of courtesans at leisure. On one side, a courtesan is holding up a puppet, while her companions play musical instruments. Shunsho, the maker, has adapted the design because there were too many women in the book illustration to fit comfortably on the small <i>inro</i>. He has left out one of the women and the entire background. The book was published before the development of  full colour printing. However, full-colour woodblock prints were extremely popular by the late 1700s when this <i>inro</i> was made. Here, Shunsho has interpreted the design in colour. He has also used the multi-colour <i>togidashie</i> (brought out by polishing) technique that best reflects the effects of a colour print.","physicalDescription":"Inrō decorated with three women and a girl. One is playing a shamisen, one is smoking a pipe, and the other is watching the girl operate a puppet. ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Shunsho","id":"A7950"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Polychrome and gold togidashi maki-e (polished-out maki-e) on a black ground with green powder","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":["2021MV8599","2006AU1695","2006AV3689"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"012","id":"THES361144"},"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":"ca. 1775-1850","earliest":"1770-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"6.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"6.8","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":"The design is found in a woodblock printed book titled 'Ehon Tamakazura' vol. 2, first published 1782, illustrated by Nishikawa Sukenobu","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō decorated with courtesans at leisure, lacquer, signed Shunsho, Japan, ca.1775-1850","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"courtesans","id":"AAT236521"},{"text":"women","id":"AAT25943"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.337-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"337","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-07","availableToBook":true}}