Case, or Inro, with quail
Place made:Japan
General region:Asia
Culture: Japanese
Period: Edo period
Date: 19th century
Dimensions:
3 5/8 in. long
Credit Line: Gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 87.67.3
Label Text
Covered stacked cases, called inro, have been used by men since the 14th century. They were used to hold seals, medicine and other personal items. The tiered boxes and cover were held by a double cord that passed through a sliding bead, or ojime, which tightened the cord to hold the inro together. The two cord ends were attached to a toggle, or netsuke, which slipped under a man's narrow belt and which acted as a counterweight.
Not on view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
