Inrô, 19th century
Seal container or Medicine case, four cases
Curtain and blossoming cherry tree, black and red lacquer
(H x W)8,8 × 8,3 cm
Place of originNihon
About the workFrom the Edo to the Meiji period, namely from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, small boxes were a common clothing accessory in Japan. These “inro” were attached to the belt of the kimono with a “netsuke” (toggle). The inr? consisted of small units stacked on top of each other and were used to store medicine, seals or coins. They were made of lacquered wood, but also of horn, ivory or ceramic. The containers were generally used by men; unlike women’s garments, their clothing did not have sleeve pockets.
AccessionGift of Bruno Werdelmann 2004
Provenance[...]; bis 25.10.2004 Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. Bruno Werdelmann (1920 – 2010), Ratingen; 25.10.2004 erworben durch Schenkung von Bruno Werdelmann
Inventory numberP 2005-1022
