Kajikawa

Edo period 18th / 19th century

1615-1868

Inro

Four case inro of rectangle form on a rich roiro ground. Two figures are in gold takamakie and the third is etched into the inro and filed with gold lacquer with an interior in nashiji.

The figures that can be seen on the front are Daikokuten and Bishamonten, on the reverse is Hotei with children. Hotei and Daikokuten are playing the game Go while being watched by Bishamonten who is the lucky god of war and battles. Bishamonten is watching over with his furious posture taking the game very seriously while Hotei and Daikokuten and laughing and drinking. There is a sake bottle below the game board with the words of longevity on it.

There is an inro previously from the W. L. Behrens Collection that has the same design by the artist Koryusi. It is well known that lacquer artists would make copies of popular pieces from older examples. Sometimes they would sign with the original creator's names in honour of them or in this case sign with their own.

Signed Kajikawa with gold kao

Size 69mm x 68mm

Ojime

Red coral bead