Description
This Inro is luxurious, thanks to the Makie (蒔絵) technique. The Makie is a typical Japanese lacquer art technique developed uniquely in Japan for about 1,200 years. Firstly, it needs to draw a picture with lacquer on the surface with a thin brush. Next, sprinkle the gold powder from above to show the pattern before the lacquer hardens. This technique makes a gorgeous and elegant look to works, as seen in this Inro case.
The scenery depicted on this Inro is Miyajima (宮島). Miyajima, commonly known as Itsukushima (厳島), is one of the Nihon Sankei (日本三景, three most scenic spots in Japan). Scenic spots are a type of cultural property in Japan and are designated by the Japanese government and local governments as areas of high artistic or ornamental value. In other words, Miyajima is highly regarded as a place that conveys traditional Japanese natural beauty and is of ornamental value.
You could see the large Torii (鳥居, a gateway at the entrance to Shinto shrines) painted on the front side of this Inro. The majestic vermilion-colored Torii gate towering offshore is a distinctive feature of this island’s scenery, and we could walk to it at low tide. This Torii gate is the entrance to Itsukushima Shrine (嚴島神社) and was first erected around the 12th century. There is another famous place called the Misen Genshirin (弥山原始林, Misen primeval forests), and along with the Itsukushima shrine, these were registered as a World Heritage Site.
The character designed on the Netsuke (根付, miniature sculpture, fastener) is a man. We estimate this man is Hotei (布袋), who is a member of Shichifuku-Jin (七福神, the Seven God of Good Fortune). Hotei is a legendary priest in ancient China. According to a theory, Hotei is the incarnation of Miroku Bosatsu (弥勒菩薩, the Bodhisattva Maitreya). He has an obese body and brings a big sack that is full of treasures. He was always in contact with people with a smile and gave his treasures to religious people. Due to his mild-mannered attitude, he was surrounded by children and became a topic of people’s conversations. And then, he was started to be treated as a theme in paintings or poetry.
We hope you enjoyed this description and wish this Inro would speak to you.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
What is Inro?
Inro is a small container for carrying medicine and tobacco leaves. In the Edo period, Samurai had a habit of carrying regular medicines in Inro, which were used daily and were popular as accessories that represent Edo crafts.
【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
【Payment method】
We accept payment through Stripe (Credit card), PayPal, Apple Pay or ChromePay, all of which are secure payment methods. Also, you don’t need to make an account on Stripe for the checkout. If you prefer other payment method, please contact us. You may either pay in JPY, USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, CHF or GBP. The price is set in Japanese Yen. Prices in other currencies are automatically calculated based on the latest exchange rate.
【Shipping duration】
We normally ship via EMS (Express Mail Service) provided by Japan Post. It usually takes at least 5-14 days to deliver the package after you place an order.
We offer Free International Shipping as long as we can ship your order by EMS. If you prefer other shipping carriers, please contact us.
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*If you like to make sure if EMS shipping is available to your country, please contact us.
【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
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Would you like see some more antique items for sale? Please check the link below. We hope you can find your favorite item.
https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product-category/antique/
