SHOKASAI: A FINE INLAID GOLD LACQUER FOUR-CASE INRO

SHOKASAI: A FINE INLAID GOLD LACQUER FOUR-CASE INRO

By Shokasai, signed Shokasai 松花齋
Japan, 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

Of upright rectangular form and oval section, the four-case inro bearing a gold kinji ground and decorated in iro-e takamaki-e and hiramaki-e, as well as Shibayama-style inlays of stained bone and mother-of-pearl, to depict a continuous image of an elderly couple finding an immortality peach floating by in a stream. Signed to the underside SHOKASAI. The interior cases of nashiji with gold fundame rims.

HEIGHT 8.2 cm, LENGTH 5.2 cm

Condition: Very good condition with typical surface wear and rubbing to lacquer. Some minuscule nibbling to the edges of the cases and some light scratches throughout.

There are a considerable number of lacquer inro and some manju netsuke that bear this signature. The inro are often lenticular and many are decorated with Shibayama style inlays, such as the present lot. See Earle, Joe [ed.] (1995) The Index of Inro Artists, p. 251.