Signed 松正 unknown maker

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Inro

Five-case inro on a densely covered nashiji ground, gold and silver takamakie with details of kirigane and a nashiji interior. It was a common folk tale in japan that shishi lions were proud, valiant creatures, whose fierce and noble spirits for some reason have a habit of entering and possessing human beings, at least in the kabuki plays of Edo Japan. It was believed that shishi fathers would take their cubs to the edge of a cliff and push them off in the hope that they would be strong enough to climb back up. This would have been a moral story to teach that life is not easy and it takes strength and persistence to be worthy of it. This inro seems to be depicting this folk tale as a young shishi is climbing up a rock face and looking up at a high waterfall on the other side showing he has far to go. The owner of this inro would have looked at it reflecting on his strength to persist with his daily struggles.

Signed 松正 unknown maker

95mm x 47mm

Ojime

shakudo bead with gilt decoration.

Anonymous

Edo / Meiji period 19/20th century

1800-1912

Miniature Inro

A tiny one section inro in gold and silver mokumegane metal and silver studs. The metal technique is known as mokumegane, a Japanese metalworking procedure that created a mixed-metal laminate of distinctive layered patterns. The word mokumegane closely translates to “wood grain metal” as the laminated layers closely resemble wood grain.

Size 20mm x 15mm

Unsigned

Kansai (Koma)

Meiji period, 19/20th century

1868-1912

Inro

A large five case inro in takamakie, hiramakie and details in kirigane. The inro depicts a temple scene with the nio (temple guardian) Ungyo who would always be paired with Agyo on one side and a Bodhisattva kannon floating in a vision under clouds on the reverse.

The Bodhisattva is Sho Kannon who is usually depicted holding a lotus flower in one hand and the other empty and outstretched with flowers, in this case, flower petals are falling around in a dream-like image.  

It is most likely by the artist Kansai III during the late 19th century. The well-known artist Shibata Zeshin was a pupil of his father Kansai II.

Signed Kansai

Size 105mm x 75mm

Ojime

Silver bead depicting the myriad of treasures.

Naotsugu

Late Edo / Meiji period, 19th/20th century

1615-1912

Inro

A two-case inro in shibuichi (mixed bronze and silver) gold, silver, copper and shakudo with an interior of gilt silver. The inro depicts a dancer in the traditional shishi or lion dance costume at new year while beating a drum. Around the new year, the lion dance takes place to wish people good luck and fortune. Often the dancer will bite onlookers’ heads or limbs for good luck. On the rear of the inro is a pine tree with inlaid gold and silver in the takazogan technique and hand chiselled detail.

The inro has a silver tablet on the back with the name Naotsugu. There were several metalworkers with this name during the 18th and 19th century but this inro was most likely by a known artist by the name Naotsugu that used the Hamano-style during the late 19th century.

Signed Naotsugu

65mm x 36mm

Ojime

Ivory ojime bead.

Anonymous

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Inro

Five-case Inro decorated in a kinji ground with gold takamakie, hiramakie, and details of kirigane. A waterfall within trees on one side and a running stream surrounded by flowers on the other. The Interior is a nashiji ground.

unsigned

75mm x 57mm

Ojime

Ivory bead

Kajikawa family

Late Edo period, 18/19th century

1615-1868

Inro

Five-case inro with riverside huts surrounded by mountains and pines. Gold Takamakie with details of kirigane, hiramake, and togidashi river with the interior of gold gyobu nashiji. Often views of mountain waters and trees are seen as sacred places of inspiration to the Japanese artists and poets. These designs were to inspire creativity using the ascetic of Buddhism and Shinto elements of beauty and nature.

Signed Kajikawa

80mm x 55mm

Ojime

red agate

Anonymous

Late Edo/Meiji period, 19/20th century

1800-1912

Inro

Four-case Inro in the shibayama technique, a kinji ground with beautifully carved mother of pearl and semi-precious stones, the interior is a nashiji ground. On one side a dovecote with two doves over flowers and on the reverse is a butterfly over peonies. The shibayama family was known for using the technique of inlay on to lacquered items hence the commonly used term shibayama.

Unsigned

88mm x 46mm

Ojime

Shibayama style on lacquer.