Japan in Miniature: A Gift of Inro, Ojime und Netsuke

An inro, meaning “seal container” in English, is a small, flat stackable box which a Japanese man in a kimono could carry on the silk belt slung around his hips. This gem was invented in the late sixteenth century, and before long numerous workshops were specialised in its production. The donation of a private collector to the Museum for Lacquer Art includes 80 inro with a variety of decorative techniques and shows a wide range of artistically designed motifs. This new acquisition of astounding quality and diversity has been knowledgeably compiled in this inventory catalogue by Heinz and Else Kress.