AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE SINGLE-CASE INRO 18TH CENTURY The heart-shaped body decorated with...

AN UNUSUAL JAPANESE SINGLE-CASE INRO

18TH CENTURY

The heart-shaped body decorated with pomegranates and leaves in red and green on a gold lacquer background, a central square panel with a kirin and scrolling clouds in aogai (abalone shell) inlays, the reverse with a ho-ho bird, together with a lacquer ojime, unsigned, 7.8cm.

Provenance: formerly in an English private collection. Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd.

Cf. V Atchley & N Davey, The Virginia Atchley Collection of Japanese Miniature Arts, IN9 p.196, for a single-case inro with similar aogai decoration. According to the authors, this type of inro was probably produced in the Ryukyu Islands by Chinese craftsmen for the Japanese market.