Minneapolis Institute of Art
Four-case inro showing two birds seated on branch of tree, two birds above flowering azalea
Jōkasai VIII 常嘉斎
- Date
- 19th century
- Medium
- Lacquer, silver ground, mura nashiji, gold and colored togidashi
- Department
- Asian Art
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
This medicine container (inrō) shows two sets of delicately rendered birds sitting on the branches of a blossoming cherry tree. Though the background has dulled with age, at one point the bright silver (ginji) ground would have shone vividly. This was achieved by coating a granular dusting of silver onto the wet lacquer, and once dried, grinding and shining the surface. The gold maki-e detailing in the blossoms of the cherry trees and inquisitive eyes of the birds offers a striking contrast to the dusk background. Japan, Asia
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