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Inro: black lacquer with gold maki-e and turquoise
inlay. (8.3 x 5.3 x 2.2 cm) Netsuke: carved wood. Both 19th century.
Copyright  Seikado
Bunko Art Museum. All rights reserved.
This elegant inro prominently features a design in tsuyukusa
(literally, “dew grass”), known in English as spiderwort
or dayflowers, and mehishiba, hairy fingergrass. An alternate
name of tsuyukusa is hotarugusa, which means “firefly grass.”
The design centers on raised applications of gold and silver,
accented by inlays of turquoise and glass in radiant hues of
blue. The leaves are especially detailed, demonstrating finely
engraved vein lines that add a touch of vivid realism. The bottom
of the inro bears the signature of Kanyusai in gold, and in
cinnabar one finds “Morimitsu,” the name of his collaborator
in the fabrication of this refined piece. The charmingly crafted
frog netsuke is made of wood. |
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Spiderwort
Design
