Japan

Room 11

Lacquerware 漆器

Drawer 1

Mother-of-pearl inlay 螺鈿印籠

Techniques of inlay using minute pieces of very fine mother-of-pearl, frequently seen in the Ryûkyû islands, were also adopted by the Somada 杣田 family, in Toyama 富山, on the north coast of Honshû. In this type of decoration, the design is built up in a mosaic-like manner, creating a contrast between the shiny, jet-black ground, and the coloured reflections of the shell and gold leaf.

  1. Inrô with ojime, Somada style 杣田風印籠と織締

    Mother-of-pearl inlay and gold leaf 金箔絵螺鈿

    Daikoku, God of Luck, taking a jewel from his pack 門松宝珠大黒図

    Unsigned 無銘

    19th century 江戸末期~明治初期

    CB-LJ-1964-60

  2. Incense box (kôgô) 香合

    Mother-of-pearl inlay 蒔絵螺鈿

    Floral designs and Heart Sûtra 唐草と般若心経

    Unsigned 無銘

    19th century 江戸末期~明治初期

    CB-LJ-1925-45

  3. Inrô, Somada style 杣田風印籠

    Mother-of-pearl inlay and gold leaf 金箔絵螺鈿

    Geometric brocade patterns 市松図

    Unsigned 無銘

    19th century 江戸末期~明治初期

    CB-LJ-1964-68

  4. Pipe case (kiseruzutsu) 煙管筒

    Mother-of-pearl inlay 蒔絵螺鈿

    Autumn grasses and poem 秋草葦手書図

    Unsigned 無銘

    Meiji (1868-1912) or Taishô era (1912-1926) 明治~大正時代

    CB-LJ-1964-55


    A very different form of decoration was developed in the 19th century by the Shibayama 芝山 family, in Edo 江戸. The Shibayama style is characterised by the use of mixed inlay (ivory, mother-of-pearl, tortoise shell, coral, or metal), with elements often finely incised in relief.

  5. Inrô with ojime and netsuke  印籠、織締と根付

    Shibayama style 芝山風

    Hiramaki-e, inlay of various materials 平蒔絵各種象嵌

    Hares pounding mochi rice cakes 餅つき兎図

    Unsigned 無銘

    XIXe siècle 江戸末期~明治初期

    CB-LJ-1963-200

     

  6. Inrô, Shibayama style 芝山風印籠

    Togidashi, inlay of various materials 研出蒔絵各種象嵌

    Hibiscus and other plants 芙蓉藪柑子桔梗図

    Signed « Masanori » 銘  政宜

    Second half 19th century 明治初期

    CB-LJ-1964-199

     

  7. Inrô, Shibayama style 芝山風印籠

    Hirame, inlay of various materials 平目地各種象嵌

    Peony and iris medallions 牡丹燕子花の丸図

    Unsigned 無銘

    Second half 19th century 明治初期

    CB-LJ-1964-191

     

  8. Inrô, Shibayama style 芝山風印籠

    Inlay of various materials on gold ground 金地各種象嵌

    Chrysanthemum and wolfberry 菊枸杞鳥図

    Signed « Shibayama » 銘  芝山

    Second half 19th century 明治初期

    CB-LJ-1964-197