A gold-lacquer saya (sheath) five-case inro

Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century

Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century
The saya decorated in gold, grey, and black takamaki-e, e-nashiji and kirikane with a warrior dreaming with his head in his hand, Mount Fuji rising in the distance, the inner five-case inro finely embellished in iro-e togidashi maki-e depicting the subject of dream, a tennin riding a giant dragon before the full moon, the interior of rich nashiji; unsigned. 9.3cm (3 5/8in) high. (2).

Provenance:
Purchased at Grace Tsumugi Ltd., November 2006.

The subject depicts the sixteenth-century lord of Kai Province, Takeda Shingen, yearning to return to his home.