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Inro: black lacquer with gold maki-e. (8.9 x 4.4
x 2.6 cm) Netsuke: red sandalwood with circular silver panel. Both
19th century.
Copyright  Seikado
Bunko Art Museum. All rights reserved.
This exquisitely well-proportioned inro is a masterpiece of
artistic charm. Created from gold maki-e on a surface of black
with a slight brown tinge, it features a total of 27 snowflakes
scattered over its two sides and the accompanying toggle, fashioned
in the shape of a mirror. The two main faces each contain 13
flakes, with the remaining one positioned on the toggle. Close
inspection reveals that of the 27 snowflake motifs, there are
four duplicates; hence, there are 23 different motifs in all.
The snowflake pattern gained much favor during the late Edo
era, as illustrated by its use not only on inro as seen here,
but also its adoption into kimono designs and other small implements
of the period. |
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