Two carved red-lacquer inro

One by Shin'yu, Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th/early 19th century

One by Shin'yu, Edo period (1615-1868), late 18th/early 19th century
Both carved in relief, the first oval and of two cases, with a continuous scene depicting a Dutchman making a presentation to a general whilst soldiers prepare for battle beneath spreading pine branches among clouds, on a carved diaper ground, the interior of black lacquer, signed on the base in a double rectangular cartouche Eiki no konomi, Shin'yu, (Made by Shin'yu to the order of Eiki); with a red-lacquer ashtray netsuke carved in relief with auspicious characters in tensho script on a formalised wave ground, 6.7cm (2 5/8in) high; the second of four cases, carved with a dragon among clouds on one side and a bird perched among peonies on the other, with a red-lacquer rectangular netsuke in the form of a Chinese table, carved on the top with a karako (Chinese boy) rolling a snowball, unsigned, with a carved red-lacquer ojime; 7cm (2¾in) high. (2).

Provenance:
The first: Edward Wrangham Collection no.2020.
Purchased from these rooms, 6 November 2013, lot 286.

Published:
E. A. Wrangham, The Index of Inro Artists, Alnwick, Northumberland, Harehope Publications, 1995, p.243, Shin'yu.