Japanese Inro from the Edo period (1615-1868) created by Kajikawa.
Beautiful Inro, created in Japan by one of the Kajikawa family during the Edo period (1615-1868), circa 1810. Has been carefully crafted in carved precious wood with applications of gilding maki-e and decorated with Japonism patterns. All dan trays are attached together with a himo cord. The detailed craftsmanship was a true pleasure to behold.
Period: Edo period (1615-1868). Shogunate.
Approximate Date: 1790-1810
Motif: A family of birds consisting of a cockerel, the hen and three chicks.
Drawers: Five.
Shape: Rectangular navette.
Technique: Carved wood, lacquer and decorated in iroe-hiramaki-e on a gold ground.
Ojime: 15mm 20mm, oval carved from natural translucent agate.
Netsuke: None
Weight: 47.70 Grams.
Measurements: Inro is 78 mm by 55 mm by 18 mm (3.07 x 2.17 x 0.71 Inches).
Signatures: Kajikawa Saku, in the underside with the signature KAJIKAWA. By a member of the Kajikawa family, signed Kajikawa 梶川 Japan, late 18th century to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868).
The Kajikawa family
Kajikawa family, flourished in the 19th century, they was Japanese lacquerware artists whose school in Edo (now Tokyo) flourished for more than 200 years. This family is perhaps the most famous of all the dynasties of Japanese lacquer artists, and certainly the name most often found on inro. The family is said to have been founded by Hikobei at Edo in the early 17th century, although some claim that the family’s great reputation really stemmed from his son and pupil Kyujiro. In any event, Hikobei worked for the shogunate, as did his successors until well into the 19th century. Kijirō excelled in designing particularly delicate lacquer inrō, portable medicine cases...
Category
1810s Japanese Edo Antique Gold Lacquer