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Inro (Case) with Squirrels in Grapevines
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
With multiple small compartments joined with a woven silk cord, inro are small cases that can be worn on one’s obi, the sash fastening a kimono. This one has a metal ojime , or small cinch, with a pierced floral design and a wood netsuke (toggle) carved with an autumnal design of quails in millet. The netsuke can be used both to pull the inro out and to help keep it in the obi. Squirrels in grapevines is a popular autumn motif.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineInro (Case) with Squirrels in Grapevines (葡萄に栗鼠蒔絵印籠), 1700–1868. Japan, Edo period (1615–1868). Lacquer on wood with sprinkled gold powder design (maki-e); overall: 8 x 5.8 cm (3 1/8 x 2 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of D. Z. Norton, 1916.860
