Inro, personal accessory

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Inro were used to carry small personal seals or medicines. It was hung from a man's kimono sash, as kimono do not have any pockets. A netsuke, toggle was attached to the cord running through the inro and a bead ojime to keep the trays closed.

This inro was made of wood covered in layers of lacquer. The design of an Okina dancer has a white ivory mask. The design is built up in paste, moulded into shape with colours and gold added to the surface which is then covered in layers of clear lacquer.

A No theatre performance started with the dance of Okina.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-220-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1930.304
• Date: 19th century
  
• Material: Inscription: Kajikawa
  Inro / case, medicine
  
• Dimensions: 3.25" H x 2.25" W
  
• What: Inro / case, medicine
  
• Subject: Lacquer and wood / inro
  
• Who: Kajikawa (Maker)
  No (Dancers depicted)
  
• Where: Japan
  
• Event:
• Description: Inro or medicine case, with compartments, with relief figures of No dancers with ivory masks, a nashi-ji interior, signed Kajikaawa, and with a ojime and a wood netsuke: Japan, 19th century
  
• References:
• Translations:
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