Inrō with Butterflies and Pampas Grass

Japan

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 199


Inrō are small, light, tightly nested boxes worn hanging from a man’s obi sash, as a Japanese kimono had no pockets. The term’s literal meaning, "seal basket," probably refers to an early function, but later they held small amounts of medicine. Once they became fashion items, inrō were carefully selected according to the season or occasion and coordinated with the attached ojime (sliding bead) and netsuke (toggle) as well as with the kimono and obi. Moore and his team surely studied the rich motifs and sophisticated production methods of the inrō he collected.

Some inrō likely served as inspiration for Tiffany design elements: the butterflies here are similar to those populating a colorful silver tray nearby, while the wisteria pattern could have inspired the silver vase embellished with the same motif.

Inrō with Butterflies and Pampas Grass, Inrō: three cases; lacquered wood with cherry bark, gold and silver hiramaki-e, gold and silver foil application; ojime: semiprecious stone bead; netsuke: Chinese boy (karako) with covered brazier; carved wood with red lacquer, Japan

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Inrō with Butterflies and Pampas Grass, Inrō: three cases; lacquered wood with cherry bark, gold and silver hiramaki-e, gold and silver foil application; ojime: semiprecious stone bead; netsuke: Chinese boy (karako) with covered brazier; carved wood with red lacquer, Japan
Inrō with Butterflies and Pampas Grass, Inrō: three cases; lacquered wood with cherry bark, gold and silver hiramaki-e, gold and silver foil application; ojime: semiprecious stone bead; netsuke: Chinese boy (karako) with covered brazier; carved wood with red lacquer, Japan
Inrō with Butterflies and Pampas Grass, Inrō: three cases; lacquered wood with cherry bark, gold and silver hiramaki-e, gold and silver foil application; ojime: semiprecious stone bead; netsuke: Chinese boy (karako) with covered brazier; carved wood with red lacquer, Japan

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