{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O76308"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O76308/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT3117/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT3117/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT3117","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O76308/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O76308","accessionNumber":"W.298:1, 2-1922","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\nFrom the 1700s onwards, many more artists signed the <i>inro</i> they made. This example is by Shibata Zeshin (1807-91), one of the most talented and renowned lacquer workers of the 19th century. He was head of a successful workshop with an enormous output. This <i>inro</i> shows Daikou, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. Here he is smoking a pipe, while a mouse peeps out from a window.  Zeshin sometimes re-used or adapted a popular design. There are several versions of this one.","physicalDescription":"Inrō with decoration depicting Daikoku smoking a pipe seated on the pestle of a rice pounder beneath a circular window, in which sits a rat","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Shibata Zeshin","id":"A7951"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lacquering","id":"AAT53796"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"roiro (highly polished black lacquer), nashiji ('pear skin' ground), and gold, silver and black togidashi maki-e (brought out by polishing)","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":["2006AT3117"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES361251"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES361251"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Ojime","id":""}],[{"text":"Inro","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1850-1890","earliest":"1845-01-01","latest":"1890-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Pfungst Gift","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"8.2","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":"2.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Zeshin","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Artist's name","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Inrō, with decoration depicting Daikoku, lacquer, signed Zeshin (1807-1891), Japan ca. 1850-1890","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Julia Hutt, <i>Japanese Inro</i>, V&A Publications, 1997; plate 101"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Julia Hutt, 'Zeshin's Calendar Inro in the V&A' in <u>Journal of the International Netsuke Collectors' Society</u>.  Vol 7, No.2, Sept 1979, Photograph p.32"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Daikoku","id":"AUTH330708"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["W.298:2-1922","W.298:1-1922"],"accessionNumberNum":"298","accessionNumberPrefix":"W","accessionYear":1922,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Ojime","Inro"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-07","availableToBook":true}}