A black-lacquer five-case inro

By Koma Bunsai, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century

By Koma Bunsai, Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
Of upright form, bearing a rich roiro ground, lacquered with scattered maru-ni-onigashiwa mon of the Makino family of Tanabe among scattered formal flowerheads, in gold takamaki-e and zogan-nuri, the interior of nashiji with kinji edges, signed in a red gourd-shaped reserve Bunsai; with a gilt metal and enamel filigree ojime, unsigned. 9.5cm (3¾in) high.

Provenance
Edward Gilbertson collection.
R. A. Pfungst collection.
Demaree and Dorothy Bess collection.
Charles A. Greenfield collection, no.205.
Purchased from Eskenazi Ltd., London, 1990.
Edward Wrangham collection, no.2001.

Published
Harold P. Stern, The Magnificent Three, Lacquer, Netsuke and Tsuba, Japan Society, New York, 1972, inro no.30.
A. J. Pekarick, Japanese Lacquer, 1600-1900, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1980, no.45.
E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, Harehope, Northumberland, 1995, p.32, Bunsai, Koma, right.

Exhibited
The Burlington Fine Arts Club, London, 1894, case XIII, no.31A.
Japan Society Gallery, New York, 1972.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1980.

The technique used on the smaller mon is zogan-nuri, which simulates cloisonné enamel by applying fine gold or silver wire.