Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Antique Japanese WovenSilk PaintedCeramicOjimes Beadwork Embroidery Inro

About the Item

This rare antique Edo-period (1615-1868) Japanese handmade inro is a curved lozenge-shaped hand-dyed woven-silk hard carrying-case container sheath that features intricate embroidery with rock-crystal or glass beadwork and thin leather-wrapped thread appliques. For its "Kimono Style" exhibition, TheMet museum noted: "the dying, weaving, and embroidery techniques for which Japan is famed reached their peak of artistic sophistication during the Edo period." On the burgundy finely-braided silk obijime cord that suspends the inro hang adjustable ojime fasteners of glazed earthenware, which are hand-painted with underglaze and overglaze enamels. The imagery includes signature-like branches, mountains, and a pine tree. Each knotted end of the cord dangles from the bottom of the inro with two rice-paper tubular beads. We could not find any Japanese beads constructed from handmade rice-paper like this in any online-accessible museum collection. The long-ago artist who made this and the other handcrafted elements was an expert in multiple artistic skills beyond the typical inro maker. In the same elongated shape of our inro, we found one with ball-shaped ojime at the V&A museum that was made in the 18th Century by Ogawa Haritsu, who was an inro master also specialized in ceramics and painting who died in 1747. The V&A noted that he had a talented apprentice, Mochizuchi Hanzan, who continued to innovate in his master's style during the rest of the century. The only other inro among hundreds in its collection that has a painted ceramic ojime like ours is dated 1750 to 1800. The V&A noted: "ceramic inro are unusual, especially at this early date. The background of this design suggests that it imitates leather. During the late 1700s and early 1800s Dutch leather became popular in Japan and the craftsman who made this probably had knowledge of such exotic wares." The same two embroidered designs appear on each side, whereby the top one may be an animal with a long neck or tail like a dragon, while the bottom one may be fruits, flowers or clouds. While the threads seem hand-woven to the mostly concealed organic material, the distressed exterior is covered in grey silk, while the interior has a teal-silk rim and undyed-silk lining. On one side of the inro there is bead loss at the top. On the other side, there is leather-wrapped thread loss at the bottom. Most inro were made for men from durable materials in rectangular shapes and multiple sections so that they could enclose small items of importance, like a seal, to a sash tied on the torso to close their kimono. Since this textile-and-ceramic one that seems to conceal a hand-carved or basketry base has such a delicate exterior, we assume it was a costly fashion accessory custom-made for a geisha's kimono with little or no function. Although, there was a match box inserted by the previous owner that we removed. With the Japanese adoption of Western dress since the late 19th Century, inro and their makers mostly disappeared, while much of the knowledge and skills to make them were lost. Since the late Edo period the artistic value of inro increased, as they were no longer used as an accessory and came to be regarded as an art object for collection.
  • Dimensions:
    Width: 2 in (5.08 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)Length: 14 in (35.56 cm)
  • Style:
    18th Century (Of the Period)
  • Place of Origin:
    Japan
  • Period:
    18th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3244220103712

More From This Seller

View All
MontblancMeisterstuckClassique Germany Gilt BlackResin Rollerball Pen with Ink
By Montblanc
Located in Chicago, IL
The best-known writing instrument of all Montblanc collections, this Meisterstuck Classique features six gilt rings and a clip on the black resin rollerball pen with a pull-off cap, ...
Category

20th Century German For The Desk

Antique 1920-40 Surrealist Sculpture Unique Set Hammered SteelWire Female Torsos
Located in Chicago, IL
This antique Surrealist sculpture set of two one-of-a-kind female figurines was handmade in hammered steel wire with patina estimated as early as the 1920s. Each ribald three-dimensional self-standing torso study of a woman features either three spiral springs (suggesting pregnant belly with large breasts...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown Sculptures

Couture 1990s LingerieLike EyelashLace Silk Red & Black Evening Sheath Dress
Located in Chicago, IL
This couture lace transparent red-and-black floral-pattern silk sleeveless evening midi dress, with an eyelash-lace boatneck and hem, is constructed with torso tucks above and below ...
Category

1990s American Evening Dresses

CommeDesGarcons 1999 RunwayLook12 BiasCut TranslucentSatin SalmonPink Maxi Dress
By Comme des Garçons, Rei Kawakubo Comme Des Garcons
Located in Chicago, IL
In an atypical Japanese-dye color for Rei Kawakubo, in 1999 she designed this translucent salmon-pink bias-cut satin sleeveless maxi dress evening gown for her brand Comme des Garcons, which debuted on a model at Paris Fall Fashion Week as "Look 12" among the Vogue photo-coverage of her Spring/Summer 2000 collection (see our last photo of the ensemble). The unusual V-neck shape creates a deep central drape in the front of the unlined dress that prevents the synthetic semi-transparent fabric from clinging to the torso. To continue to flatter the curvy shape of the lower body like the bias-cut enables, such as while walking, Kawakubo added an additional piece of fabric with a circling angular seam that rises from the wider hem. With the exception of the brand tag, all others were cut off by the sole owner to eliminate bulk and visibility through the dress. If the buyer would prefer, the fabric can be made shinier and completely smooth with professional pressing. If the buyer would like to create a layered ensemble with this gown as seen on the runway, we have other textural colorful tops to choose from with over-dyed unique appliques from this same Spring/Summer 2000 collection. However, we think our backless-mannequin photos show that this minimal dress...
Category

Early 2000s Japanese Evening Gowns

Antique NativeAmerican LeatherBraidedSeamsStrapsNeckline Sleeveless Hide Dress
Located in Chicago, IL
This antique Native American brown chamois suede leather sleeveless chemise dress, which was handmade during the "reservation era" between 1870-1930, is made from two soft supple ani...
Category

Early 20th Century American Chemises

StellaMcCartney 2003 Runway Silk Satin Print Zip Jacket OffShoulder Bubble Dress
By Stella McCartney
Located in Chicago, IL
Arguable the most significant design in the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2003 collection--since our versatile garment debuted in different colors on the runway and was worn by the British designer to take her fashion-show bow--this pink-printed dark-grey silk-blend zip-front bubble-shaped mini dress with white-satin stripes and pink piping was a favorite of the show's Vogue critic and her father Beatles co-founder Paul McCarthy. Vogue wrote: "Her hippest new idea came in the form of puffy satin bombers--she transformed one, a fusion of sport and chinoiserie print, into an off-the-shoulder bubble dress. McCartney is so into the glam-bomber idea, in fact, that she bounded onto the runway wearing a black version herself." The garment's voluminous batwing sleeves and stretch-cotton ribbed neckline and hem, plus custom golden-charm two-way zipper, enable it to have two different necklines and lengths to convert to a shorter puffier bomber jacket. Notably, the versatile piece that is subtly printed with mock-Beatles lyrics seems to have been the first tribute fashion-design that McCartney created to reference her father. Prior, she had credited her stylish mother Linda for instilling her with a love of fashion and inspiration for her initial namesake collections, which followed her first commercial collections with Phoebe Philo for Chloe. For background, when McCartney was a young girl in 1978, the mock-rock band The Rutles parodied a Beatles song, which was recorded by EMI as "Ging, Gang, Goolie". Given its lyrics, the chinoiserie-style dragon motifs were substituted by McCartney with bird skeletons...
Category

Early 2000s British Mini Dress

You May Also Like

Gucci Home Beige Red Tartan Check and Floral Print Quilted Blanket
By Gucci
Located in Rome, Rome
Beutiful GUCCI quilted blanket with an all-over multicolour floral print. tartan border. Gucci label sewn on the corner. Front part: Polyester 45%, Silk 40%, Cotton 15%. Back part: L...
Category

2010s Italian Decorative Objects

LOUIS VUITTON Pétanque Set
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Paris, FR
Amazing pétanque set from Louis Vuitton with monogram Condition: very good Containing: three balls + one jack Material: Monogram coated canvas Color: brown Weight: 185g per ball Yea...
Category

Early 2000s Unknown Decorative Objects

Hermes Mosaique Au 24 Gold Tart Platter Porcelain
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Mosaique Au 24 Gold Tart Platter in porcelain. The mosaic motif reflects the mosaic floor at the entrance of the 24 Fau...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French For The Table

Hermes Samarcande Paperweight Natural Mahogany Horsehead
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Samarcande Natural Mahogany paperweight. Crafted in solid mahogany wood. This exquisite paperweight can serve as a stand alone. Etoupe leather base stampe...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Decorative Objects

Hermes Le Felin Change Tray Hand Painted Porcelain Naturel
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Le Felin hand painted porcelain Change Tray in Naturel. Hand painted gold trim. Designed by Robert Dallet, a wildlife artist for the Museum of Naturel His...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French For The Desk

Hermes Lacque Box Terracotta Carved H Lid Rare Vintage Lacquared Box
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Guaranteed authentic Hermes Cavales Box. Engraved hand-lacquered wood. Exquisite in Black. Beautiful container to keep your mementos in secret! New or P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Decorative Objects

Recently Viewed

View All