Antique Inro

Presenting an astonishing Japanese Antique Carved Bone Pillbox Inro, museum quality with the amazing carving skill depicting rats on the lid and body and the relief weaved basket pat...

The lowest part of the inro has a crack on one side.

A four-case lacquered Japanese inro by Yutokusai (Gyokkei), a lacquer artist active from 1845-1900 (end of Edo to Meiji period).

Inro in 19th century Japanese pine wood decorated with hen and rooster.

The V&A noted: "ceramic inro are unusual, especially at this early date.

The opposite sides of the inro together features a lavish flower arrangement in a bamboo basket (ikebana).

A four-case lacquered inro by Koma Koryu circa 19th century late Edo period.

Inro with four gold lacquer boxes, decorated with a lake landscape.

Japanese Lacquer Inro with Netsuke Okame Mask, brown lacquer with 3 sections and 2 compartments, and carved ivory polychrome Okame mask and a rope hair.

A Japanese four-case lacquer inro by a member of Kajikawa family circa 19th century (late Edo to early Meiji period).

A large five part lacquer inro. A family crest in gold on black background.

Intricately carved inro in the form of a woven basket. Quality craftsmanship.

19th Century Japanese inro with 5 lacquered wooden compartments, 93 x 50 x 30 mm in size.

19th Century Japanese inro with 3 lacquered wooden compartments, 63 x 70 x 22 mm in size.

Cord intact. About Japanese Inrō Inrō were traditional Japanese containers worn suspended from the obi (kimono sash) and were used to carry small personal belongings.

The inro is a stack of small boxes hanging from a "netsuque" made of animal bone.

A really nice vintage Japanese boxwood inro and netsuke of rats and snakes on a round basket, circa early 1940s.

Nicely carved Inro with birds and flowers. Quality craftsmanship.

Both the Inro and Ojime were signed with matching Kenzan seal in black.

A good Japanese carved cinnabar three case inro with mixed metal ojime, Meiji period, late 19th century, Japan.

A Japanese three-case inro with stringed carved netsuke and bead ojime from early Edo period circa 17th century.

This matches the deign on the Inro well. The inro is signed on the bottom as shown.

Two compartments inrô in black lacquer, hira maki-e and mother-of-pearl inlay on a hirameiji background, decorated with a bouquet of chrysanthemums in a small purse, a hoe on the oth...

The Inro, with ojime and netsuke, is attributed to Ogata Kenzan (1663–1743) and was possibly made by him.

19th century Japanese inro with 4 boxes in gold lacquer with kinji mat background decorated in taka makiyé of gold of different tones.

Inros were used to store items like medicine, tobacco or hanko (seal).

A Japanese four-case inro with a stringed carved wood netsuke circa 19th century.

Japanese Inro from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Beautiful Inro, created in Japan during the Meiji imperial period, circa 1870.

Japanese Inro from the Edo period (1615-1868) created by Kajikawa.

Japanese Inro from the Edo Period (1603-1867). Beautiful Inro, created in Japan during the Edo period (Shogunate), circa 1800.

Inrō with four boxes in black and gold lacquer, representing a person in a pavilion in a snowy landscape with mountain on the background.

Inrō with four gold lacquer compartments, decorated with a lake landscape.

Japanese inro with 4 XIXth century boxes in gold lacquer with matt kinji background decorated in gold taka makiyé of different tones.

Interior in hirameji lacquer. On the top of the inro are three birds in flight in takamaki-e. Small boxes formed of interlocking compartments, inrō (印籠) are traditional Japanese clo...

A matching set consisting of an inrō and pipe (kiseru) holder crafted forming a kiserusu.

Provenance: Ex Private French collection The netsuke functioned as a toggle or counterweight at the opposite end of the cord that secured the Inro or other small accessory danglin...

Yutokusai was highly celebrated for his meticulous inro (medicine cases) and delicate small scale lacquerwares.

The back is hollowed in the traditional manner, and the himotoshi (cord holes) are drilled and worn, confirming practical use as a toggle for inro or pouch. Unsigned, as is typical ...

To prevent these from slipping, a netsuke, a small figurine in wood or ivory, was used to secure the cords of inrō or other types of sagemono. Netsuke are among the finest examples o...

Various attachment systems were employed; here, the manju is carved from a single block and pierced with two holes to allow a cord to pass through, for attachment to a potential inrō...

Various attachment systems were employed; here, the manju is carved from a single block and pierced with two holes to allow a cord to pass through, for attachment to a potential inrō...

To prevent these from slipping, a netsuke, a small figurine in wood or ivory, was used to secure the cords of inrō or other types of sagemono. Netsuke are among the finest examples o...

To prevent these from slipping, a netsuke, a small figurine in wood or ivory, was used to secure the cords of inrō or other types of sagemono. Netsuke are among the finest examples o...

To prevent these from slipping, a netsuke, a small figurine in wood or ivory, was used to secure the cords of inrō or other types of sagemono. Netsuke are among the finest examples o...

Various attachment systems were employed; here, the manju is carved from a single block and pierced with two holes to allow a cord to pass through, for attachment to a potential inrō...

Various attachment systems were employed; here, the manju is carved from a single block and pierced with two holes to allow a cord to pass through, for attachment to a potential inrō...

Various attachment systems were employed; here, the manju is carved from a single block and pierced with two holes to allow a cord to pass through, for attachment to a potential inrō...

Netsuke served as anchors or counterweights for inrô and Sagemono. A single cord was threaded through a cord channel on one side of the suspended container, through two holes (himoto...

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

A similar example is reproduced in: Barry Davies Oriental Art, Netsuke and Inrô from European Collections, London, Connekt Colour, 2002, p. 92.

Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.

Initially it began as a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inro which was later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.