Carved Lacquer Inro With Bird Decoration, Japan, 19th Century

Lacquer inro decorated with birds. One side features two cranes carved in light relief and enhanced with mother-of-pearl and gilding. The other side also features another crane. The inro has three compartments that can be slid along a cord. The cord is adorned with a small pearl, an ojime, which is used to tighten the cord to keep the inro closed. The two upper compartments each have two small storage spaces separated by a central divider. The lower compartment is not divided. There are a few chips (see photos).

Inros are traditional Japanese objects used mainly by men during the Edo period (1603-1868). They are small, portable boxes used to carry small objects such as seals, medicines and other valuables. Each compartment is carefully shaped by hand to fit perfectly together. To carry an inro, the Japanese used a netsuke, a small sculpture attached to the cord that passed through the top of the inro and was inserted into the wearer's belt. This accessory represented the social status and refinement of its owner.

In used condition but in good overall condition.

Dimensions:
Height: 6 cm
Width: 5.5 cm
Depth: 2.7 cm